Govt. says Rs. 10 b allocated for elections

Wednesday, 22 November 2023 00:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

State Minister for Plantations, Enterprise Reforms and Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya

State Minister for Plantations, Enterprise Reforms and Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya yesterday revealed that a dedicated allocation of Rs. 10 billion has been reserved for potential future elections.

“This provision, while not explicitly outlined in the budget proposals, has been included in the estimates,” Siyambalapitiya told journalists at a briefing arranged at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC) under the theme ‘One Way to a Stable Country’.

“We have allocated Rs. 10 billion for upcoming elections, although this provision was not formally presented in the budget proposals, but has been factored into the estimates,” he added.

Despite accusations labelling 2024 Budget as an election-oriented one, the State Minister said it was crucial to recognise the imperative of responding to the challenges faced by a society under considerable strain. In such a context, it becomes obligatory to address the needs of those significantly impacted by economic adversity.