The Sri Lanka Administrative Service Association (SASA) has expressed its appreciation for the 2025 budget, highlighting its development-focused approach and its alignment with efforts to strengthen state revenue within the constraints of a limited fiscal space.

In a letter addressed to President Anura Kumara Disanayake, signed by SASA Secretary Kalindra Jayaweera Fernando, the association conveyed its congratulations on the presentation of the budget. The letter emphasized that the budget has been designed to enhance government revenue streams while maintaining a development-oriented outlook.

Furthermore, SASA affirmed its commitment to providing the government with maximum support in achieving a stable public financial system. The letter also acknowledged the significant efforts made through the budget to ensure fairness for government employees, particularly by substantially increasing the basic salaries of those with low wage levels. This measure was recognized as a commendable step towards addressing salary disparities within the public sector.

The letter emphasizes key fiscal measures, particularly the government’s commitment to curbing tax evasion by implementing digital financial transaction systems. It also highlights efforts to enhance investor confidence and ensure transparency through the introduction of internationally recognized legal frameworks aimed at preventing fraud and corruption.

Additionally, the government’s dedication to improving the efficiency of tax collection institutions is reaffirmed by setting high performance targets. The letter further notes that the budget accurately reflects public concerns regarding tax related entities.

Moreover, the SASA reiterates its commitment to supporting the President and the government in effectively and efficiently implementing policy decisions that contribute to the development of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

President Anura Kumara Disanayake highlighted that due to the mismanagement of public finances by previous administrations, the country had fallen into bankruptcy and is currently operating under a probationary period of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program. Given this situation, he emphasized that the Budget 2025 has taken the initial steps towards building a strong and stable economy.

The President made these remarks while participating in the Post-Budget forum 2025 organized by the University of Colombo Master of Business Administration (MBA) Alumni Association held on Wednesday (19) at Cinnamon Life Hotel in Colombo.

President Anura Kumara Disanayake stated that the government aims to utilize the three-year debt moratorium granted through debt restructuring effectively and implement proper economic management to regain debt repayment capacity by 2028.

The President further noted that while many countries in the world have taken decades to recover after facing bankruptcy, Sri Lanka is expected to recover in a significantly shorter period.

The President also highlighted that this year’s budget proposes to increase government revenue to 15.1% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and emphasized the government’s commitment to prioritizing expenditures based on identified national priorities.

The President emphasized that this year’s budget focuses on expanding the economy by driving economic activities to rural areas and integrating citizens as stakeholders in the economy. He expressed confidence that this approach would enhance the economic benefits available to the people.

The government plans to reintegrate marginalized groups into the economy by establishing small economic units at the village level. As a result, the country aims to foster a surge in Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs), the President stated.

Highlighting the government’s commitment to supporting industries, the President noted that reducing production costs would ultimately provide relief to consumers.

To uplift the nation from rural poverty, the highest budget allocation this year has been directed towards education. This investment aims to restructure both human and physical resources within the school system, transitioning from a linear education model to a more diversified, multi-directional approach.

The budget also prioritizes public expenditure management. Given the high costs associated with delivering public services, the government intends to conduct a comprehensive review of state institution expenditures.

President Disanayake stressed the importance of maintaining a corruption-free political authority and underscored that fostering a culture where bribery is rejected is a collective responsibility of the citizens.

To establish an export-driven economy, the government plans to sign new trade agreements and anticipates higher export earnings this year.

Additionally, the current administration is focused on developing a port-centric economy. The budget has placed special attention on establishing an efficient transhipment hub.

Tourism promotion initiatives will be further strengthened through City Branding programs, with plans to develop key cities such as Anuradhapura, Yapahuwa, and Jaffna as major tourist destinations.

The President also emphasized the need to leverage the country’s diplomatic service to expand economic opportunities for Sri Lanka.

The event was attended by Duminda Hulangamuwa Chairman, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce & Senior Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs and Finance,President of the University of Colombo Master of MBA Alumni Association Suraj Radampola, along with several experts from academia and the business sector.

It has been reported that the  Batticaloa-Colombo express train has collided with a herd of elephants at Gal Oya this morning (20).

As a result, five elephants were killed, and the collision caused the  train to derail, desrupting services on the line.