G.L concedes public finance under P’ment

• Acknowledges constitutional standoff needs to be resolved soon to release public funds  

By Nuwan Senarathna

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Chairperson Prof. G.L Peiris yesterday acknowledged the need for the allocation of funds for next year, conceding that Parliament was vested with the authority to allocate public funds for government entities and this could not be done by the Executive. 

“We have to allocate funds for next year by 31 December either by the Appropriation Bill or a Vote on Account. Under Article 148 of the Constitution, Parliament is vested with the authority to allocate public funds, therefore, we need to resolve this soon,” Prof. Peiris told reporters at the SLPP headquarters.

In Chapter 17 of the Constitution, Article 148 states: “Parliament shall have full control over public finance. No tax, rate or any other levy shall be imposed by any local authority or any other public authority except by or under the authority of a law passed by Parliament or of any existing law.”

“Parliament has to bring either the Appropriation Bill or a Vote on Account during the month of December to continue the Government’s function for next year,” he added. 

He pointed out that only a government could introduce a money bill. 

“There must be a government to bring a Vote on Account,” he asserted.