Sri Lankan ministries to lose 5% of budgeted funds

by Staff Writer 10-01-2023 | 3:26 PM

COLOMBO (News 1st) - President Ranil Wickremesinghe has informed the cabinet that the fund allocations made via the budget for all ministries will have to be cut down by 5%.

This was announced by Minister Bandula Gunawardena, the Cabinet Spokesperson on Tuesday (10) at the weekly Cabinet media briefing.

"There is no stable income to even support the essential welfare expenses. Therefore, the Cabinet was informed that all ministry allocations from the budget will be cut down by 5%."

Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Bandula Gunawardena told reporters that the President had informed the Cabinet that the treasury is facing a serious financial crisis.

The Minister said that the government is already finding it difficult to pay the state sector salaries for January and February.

However, State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe says that there should be no undue fear regarding the payment of government employee salaries or welfare benefits including the Samurdhi allowance.

In a statement, the State Finance Minister stated that priority will be given to government employee salaries, pensions and welfare benefits in the management of government revenue and expenditure.

The State Finance Minister indicated that a plan to settle the bills due from the government for certain projects is currently under discussion with the relevant ministries.