• Revisits earlier decision; agrees to cut 6% in total from allocations of 2023, of which 1% to purchase medicine

The Government has decided to cut down an additional 1% from the budgetary allocations of 2023 to purchase essential medicine, revising the previous decision.

“It was decided to cut down a total of 6% from the budgetary allocations of 2023. The additional 1% was a unanimous decision by the Cabinet of Ministers after Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella requested an additional Rs. 10 billion to purchase essential medicine,” Cabinet Co-Spokesman and Minister Bandula Gunawardena said yesterday.

He said the Health Minister informed the Cabinet of the need for an additional Rs. 10 billion to purchase medicine this year.

“Given the financial crisis we cannot allow people to suffer at hospitals,” he added.

On 10 January, President Ranil Wickremesinghe ordered all the ministers to cut down 5% from the budgetary allocations of 2023 to manage the severe burden on the Treasury, whilst noting that Samurdhi payments could be delayed by two weeks.

However, Cabinet Co-Spokesman did not make any mention of Samurdhi payments being delayed yesterday.

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