• Supplementary estimate to cover payment of allowances to public officials, pensioners, Samurdhi beneficiaries etc.
• Public Finance Committee approval its presentation to House
• Parliament will debate the proposal today

The Government yesterday presented to Parliament a supplementary estimate to spend Rs. 695 billion for various purposes.

The supplementary estimate will cover the continued payment of the monthly allowance of Rs. 5,000 to Government servants which began in January 2022 which will cost Rs. 67 billion.

It will also cover Rs. 40 billion needed to continue the payment of Rs. 5,000 to pensioners and a sum of Rs. 15 billion for the Rs. 1,000 to Samurdhi recipients.

In addition, Rs. 140 billion was sought to pay Samurdhi benefactors affected by the difficult economic situation, Rs. 50 billion for the Ceylon Electricity Board to settle outstanding payments to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, Rs. 12 billion for green agriculture and Rs. 50 billion for the payments for fertiliser.

Parliament’s approval was sought to spend Rs. 25 billion to provide food to the security forces, prisons and hospitals due to the increase of prices, further Rs. 4.5 billion for other recurrent expenditure, Rs. 21 billion for loan interests. 

Parliament approval will also be sought to spend Rs. 250 billion for expenses connected with the Indian line of Credit to import essential items.

The Public Finance Committee yesterday approved the supplementary estimate.

The parliamentary debate on this will be held today. 

Parliament goes from print to electronic to cut costs

Cabinet approves move to amend Appropriation Bill for 2022