Rs. 18 b supplementary allocation presented to Parliament

By Ashwin Hemmathagama 

A supplementary allocation of a total of Rs.18 billion was presented to the Parliament yesterday to keep the House informed of the expenses incurred during 1-31 March, provisioning 61 different programs and purposes.

The key allocations, which were looking for House approval, includes Rs.3.4 billion for the Ministry of Higher Education and Highways to settle the outstanding bills for the project of extensions of the Southern Expressway from Matara to Hambantota in two sections; Godagama to Beliatta, and Andarawawe to Mattala. 

The Ministry of Defence will receive Rs.2.67 billion to meet the expenses of Maritime Safety Capability Improvement project. Rs.145 million will be allocated to the Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Government to settle the outstanding bills in 2017 for the expenses incurred for implementation of Front Office System in 100 local authorities, contribution to Provincial Councils, renovation of the Seth Sevana Elders Home maintained by the Government, and for the improvement of the drainage system in the Eastern Province. 

The Sri Lanka Army will also be additionally allocated Rs.1.51 billion to shoulder the expenditure for the UN peacekeeping operation. Rs.734 million will be allocated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to account for the transfer of ownership of the buildings to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in New York and Brasilia, owned by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka as per the Cabinet Decision dated 23 November 2016. The Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources Management will be allocated Rs.2.7 billion to meet the expenditure of infrastructure development of the Thalpitigala Reservoir. 

Supplementary allocations are being provided in terms of Clause 6 (1) of the Appropriation Act as required. These are provided strictly for the purposes specified in approved Budget Estimates to relevant spending agencies, having carried out a needs assessment, giving consideration to relevant financial regulations, and approved procedures.

However, the supplementary provision presented yesterday did not change the approved total expenditure limits of the annual estimate by Parliament. 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, the borrowing limit or the maximum limit of total expenditure will not be increased due to granting of these supplementary provisions. The purpose of this provision is to facilitate the smooth conduct of public finance management in a more efficient and effective manner.