The Government has estimated an expenditure of Rs. 1,819 billion for next year, with the bulk of these expenses being set aside for the Defence and Finance Ministries, amidst allegations by the Joint Opposition that the education expenditure for next year has been cut by over 57%.
The Defence Ministry has been Allocated Rs. 283 billion, while the Finance Ministry has been allocated Rs. 242 billion.
Sirisena’s pet subject, health has been allocated Rs. 160 billion, while the Higher Education and the Highways Ministry has been allocated Rs. 162 billion. However the Education Ministry has only been allocated Rs. 76 billion
The Public Administration Ministry has been allocated Rs.164 billion, while the Transport and Civil Aviation Ministry has been allocated Rs. 50 billion. The Local Government and Provincial Councils Ministry has been allocated Rs.223 billion.
A total of Rs. 5 billion has been set aside for the President’s Office for the year 2017, amidst allegations from the National Freedom Front (NFF) that the presidential expenditure has gone up by 320%.
NFF’s spokesman Mohammed Muzammil has said that while the President’s expenditure has been increased by 320%, the funds allocated for education has been reduced by 57.6% in the Appropriation Bill.
“The facilities for the people have been reduced, and the facilities for the President has been increased,” Muzammil said. According to him, as per the Appropriation Bill, the Government has set aside Rs. 20 million a day as expenses for Sirisena.
Sinhala_Man / October 12, 2016
Can this be seriously true or is this another misleading headline?
The government had betespecially agyr r think hard. Defence surely must come down, Education must gstories about the First especially after all that we had all those stories about those stories about the First Family.
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Amarasiri / October 12, 2016
RE: Education Expenditure Cut By Half, Maithri Gets 20 Million A Day: JO
“The facilities for the people have been reduced, and the facilities for the President has been increased,” Muzammil said. According to him, as per the Appropriation Bill, the Government has set aside Rs. 20 million a day as expenses for Sirisena.
“Can this be seriously true or is this another misleading headline? “
Since it is coming from the JO, one needs to divide by the JO Factor.
Need to wait for the Govt to come up with the true will they come up with the true number?
Then divide the Govt. Number by the JO Number.
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Don Stanley / October 13, 2016
Sri Lanka should not be buying useless fighter jets but investing in EDUCATION as a priority at this time. An educated and skilled labour force is needed for the country to get out of the Middle Income Country Trap.
The Defense budget must also be cut down, halved, and the defense sector RESTRUCTURED for peace time.
The bloated defense forces should be put to work in the Maritime Security and logistics Sector as Sri Lanka is strategically located on a maritime trade and security route and various countries want to secure the route.
There is no strategic or innovative thinking or policy making in the Finance and Planning Ministries or the PM’s office. Ranil is simply running around with a begging bowl to various donors..
CT Editors: How many trips overseas has Ranil and Sira done this year instead of speeding up reform of Justice sectors and investigations against Financial Criminals in order to trace the funds looted to pay of the gigantic National Debt?
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Sinhala_Man / October 13, 2016
Sorry about all those typos – sent from mobile phone in a bus.
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Estate Labourer / October 12, 2016
The Sri Lanka Government has set aside Rs.20 Million a day for one man’s expenses. There are many people in this country who will never get to spend Rs.20 Million in their entire lifetime!
What does he eat for breakfast anyway? A stew of gold, silver, platinum, rubies, emeralds, sapphires and diamonds?
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shankar ramalingam / October 12, 2016
nightclubs are expensive.
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jim softy / October 12, 2016
If it is true, Maithripala Sirisena has become another LIAR. There is nothing to talk about Ranil wickramasinghe.
Since 1948, they lived by robbing the country.
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srinath.gunaratne / October 12, 2016
How do they go to sleep wasting money like this in a poor country!
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Native Vedda / October 12, 2016
srinath.gunaratne
“How do they go to sleep wasting money like this in a poor country!”
Probably they would have learnt the art of not suffering from guilt, from MR clan.
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shankar ramalingam / October 12, 2016
spending 15% of the budget on defence is cheeky.Are we in perpetual war here?
looks like this government has to bribe the armed forces to stay in power.
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Shan / October 13, 2016
Sometimes I feel like people are dumb or ignorant. Do you know that SL went through 30 year war and most of the armory we bought are through loans? Of course those loans have to paid and they usually come from defense budget. Plus we still have a big army thanks to the war.
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BBS Rep / October 13, 2016
Of course My3 knows where his priorities lie. Educating the public is problematic. When educated, the public will not vote for the fraudsters, practitioners of nepotism, thugs, Mafiosi and the ilk.
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Shamil / October 13, 2016
Good move education should not be free.
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