Sri Lanka's 2025 Budget to Focus on Grassroots

COLOMBO (News 1st); This year's budget is being designed with the objective of involving every segment of the population in the economic process, said Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at a preliminary discussion with officials from the Ministry of Finance regarding the preparation of the 2025 Budget.

The meeting was held at the Presidential Secretariat.

The discussion also focused on the importance of streamlining public transportation to enhance productivity and efficiency in economic activities, as well as the proper utilization of decentralized funds.

The meeting reviewed the government's role in strengthening public transportation and the measures required to provide necessary facilities.

Despite significant allocations made to decentralized funds by previous governments, these funds have not been directed toward productive projects. Therefore, attention was drawn to allocating decentralized fund provisions for national-level projects.

The President and officials had also discussed the repayment of loans provided to rice millers for purchasing paddy within a year and the regulation of rice stocks currently held by these businesses.

President Dissanayake had highlighted the importance of extending the higher levels of the economy to the grassroots and underscored the necessity of preparing an economic plan that ensures equitable distribution across all provinces.

Given the shortcomings in the existing welfare distribution mechanisms, the President had noted the need to identify and address these gaps to ensure that aid reaches the truly deserving communities promptly.