800 proposals from public for 2011 Budget

Around 800 individuals and organisations have responded to the call for public consultation on the forthcoming budget for 2011, says Director of the Budget Department of the Treasury Mahinda Saliya.

Participating in a radio programme at the state owned Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation; the Treasury official said that attention is focused on these proposals during the preparation of budget.

The Sri Lankan government is to present its budget for 2011 in Parliament on 22 November this year.

He said the forthcoming budget is being formulated in line with plans for the coming three years and priority is being given to fulfill the targets of the government’s development projects.

Finance and Planning Ministry has said the government was planning to form a three-year development strategy from 2011 to 2013. The Ministry through an advertisement invited the public and business organisations to submit proposals for reviving stalled projects, resource mobilisation, and simple ways of collecting revenue.

Highlighting that the objective of the President is to increase the country’s per-capita income to 4,000 dollars, the Treasury official pointed out that this aim could be achieved only through the enhancement of the productivity in the fields of agriculture and industries.

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) affiliated National Trade Union Center (NTUC) last week signed a budget proposal calling for a Rs. 8,000 salary increase for the working masses.

A commission has been appointed to revise the country’s tax system to increase revenues, the director informed.  The director emphasised the need for more funds for the defence sector noting that although terrorism has been eliminated, the threats from external forces still remain and not eliminated completely. However frauds and corruption within the country have come down considerably, he said.

(Colombo Page)