Govt. seeks parliamentary approval for Rs. 369 million supplementary allocation

Moving a motion in Parliament, the Government sought lawmakers’ approval yesterday for a supplementary allocation of Rs. 369 million, which will be spent mainly to procure new motor vehicles for ministers, ministries and to renovate official residences and ministry buildings.

Pending Public Finance Committee approval, the motion outlines a list of allocations including Rs. 154 million to purchase new vehicles for the Defence Ministry, Rs. 120 million to purchase vehicles for the Finance Ministry, Rs. 43 million to purchase a vehicle for the Rural Economy Deputy Minister, Rs. 16 million to purchase a vehicle for the Development Strategies and International Trade Minister, Rs. 3.4 million for the repairs of the official residence of the Social Empowerment and Social Welfare Minister, Rs. 1.2 million for the repairs of the official residence of the Digital Infrastructure Development Minister, Rs. 6.4 million to renovate the official residence of the Childcare and Welfare Minister, Rs. 5.9 million for the renovation of the Central Province Governor’s official residence and Rs. 124 million for Parliament to meet the shortfall of provisions made for personal emoluments.

However, according to the Government this supplementary provision will not change the approved total expenditure limits of the annual estimate by Parliament. The motion mentioned: “The allocation of such purposes has been made under the project of Budgetary Support Services and Contingent Liabilities of the Department of National Budget and it is under the limit of the approved annual budget. Therefore, either the borrowing limit or the maximum limit of total expenditure will not be increased due to the granting of these supplementary provisions.”

Moving a separate motion, the Government sought approval for Rs. 1 billion for the Ministry of Higher Education and Highways to settle the outstanding bills of road projects. Minister of Higher Education and Highways and Leader of the House of Parliament Lakshman Kiriella moved the motions. AH