Treasury directs line ministries to implement Budget proposals

The Treasury Secretary has informed secretaries of all line ministries to take necessary action to implement all development proposals made in Budget 2017 for each ministry. 

These proposals in the Budget, which have already been passed by Parliament, will be implemented through relevant ministries and their affiliated institutions.

Certain budget proposals in the past were not implemented properly during the targeted period of time thereby the country lost expected benefits. The prime objective of this program is to ensure the proper implementation of all the development projects proposed by Budget 2017 in time.

In a report to all ministry secretaries, the Ministry of Finance has summarised the projects coming under the purview of each ministry and how such projects proposed by the Budget are implemented. This report also includes details with regard to new laws to be introduced if necessary.

The report has further advised ministry secretaries to prepare an action plan and implement all the projects and proposals made by the Budget within this year in order to eradicate poverty and generate employment to enable the public to increase their income.

Budget 2017 has proposed 325 projects to be implemented and the National Budget Department has allocated the necessary funds for each ministry to implement them hassle-free.

Accordingly, Treasury Secretary Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga has already informed ministry secretaries to prepare procurement plans and action plans with immediate effect and submit them to the Director General Budget Department to enable him to provide necessary grants for each project.

Certain budget proposals were implemented with effect from the midnight following the presentation of the Budget in Parliament and the responsibility of implementing the balance is left with the respective ministries and their regulatory bodies.

Accordingly, the prices of several essential commodities, including kerosene, sugar, canned fish and powdered milk, have already been dropped. 

Relevant Acts and regulations introduced under a move to simplify tax system will be implemented with effect from 1 April 2017. The specific feature in preparing the Budget this time is the inclusion of proposals by people from all walks of life including ordinary people, businessmen and professionals. Tourism has been bouncing back in the country and a group of businessmen engaged in transporting tourists requested assistance to improve the sector. 

The Finance Ministry said 325 projects have been proposed to be implemented within this year. Each line ministry and its affiliated bodies should prepare their own action plans to properly implement the proposed projects which have been earmarked for each ministry. Treasury Secretary Dr. Samaratunga has informed all ministry secretaries to set up a task force to assess the performance of each project and inform the Treasury of the outcome on a monthly basis.