Basil reminds officials their duty is to serve the people

Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa 

• Calls on Govt. servants to provide better service to public, minimising unnecessary expense, and waste and corruption 
• Says Govt. plans to reopen entire country soon, expedite vaccination program
• Assures to allocate necessary funds to purchase balance vaccinations
• Green Sri Lanka program will focus on 27 key issues that affect the future generation 
• More attention to be given to technology-related jobs generating foreign revenue  
• Highlights importance of being vigilant in next 6 months to implement proposals to strengthen the economy
• Denies 14% tax on the Employees Provident Fund balances

Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa this week reminded people’s representatives and Government officials that it was their responsibility to serve the public without causing inconvenience during this difficult time.

In a lengthy discussion with people’s representatives, Governors and District Secretaries at Temple Trees on Tuesday, Rajapaksa expressed confidence that the country’s economic sectors could be revived soon.

He said that the Government had given priority to fully re-opening the country in a careful manner whilst expediting the national vaccination program.

He emphasised that the Finance Ministry would take all necessary steps to allocate funds for the purchase of vaccines, free of conditions, giving priority to the health and safety of the people.

Rajapaksa also outlined that the Green Sri Lanka program would focus on 27 key issues affecting the future generation of the country, adding that plans were afoot to make those proposals a success and to allocate funds for the digitisation of State institutions.

The Minister said that the country already earns around $ 1.2 billion from technology-related jobs and that even foreign countries have a tendency to seek the assistance of Sri Lankan technologists. 

He noted that going forward more attention would be paid to technology-related jobs generating foreign revenue.

Commenting on the forthcoming economic program and the methodology behind its implementation, Rajapaksa pointed out the importance of being careful and vigilant over the next six months.

He also said that attention should be paid to the strategies of encouraging investors, by identifying bottlenecks and bureaucratic red tape.

Rajapaksa vehemently also denied what he labelled as propaganda spread on social media that a 14% tax would be levied on the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) after his appointment as Finance Minister.

He called on the Governors, District Secretaries and all the people’s representatives’ support in these trying times to provide a better public service, while giving priority to the needs of the people and minimising corruption and unnecessary expense and waste.

A number of Ministers and Members of Parliament also participated in the discussion.