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Contradictory figures in proposals show govt.’s inability to prepare annual budget – Rajitha Senaratne
by Saman Indrajith
SJB Kalutara District MP Dr. Rajitha Senaratne says that the government’s budget proposals with contradictory figures is a testimony to the government’s inability to prepare the annual budget.
Participating in the second reading stage debate on the budget proposals, the MP said on page 51 of the budget report, government expenditure has been mentioned as Rs. 3,525 billion but on the very next page, on Page 52, government expenditure has been given as Rs 3,594 billion.
“The difference between the revenue and the expenditure is mentioned on Page 51 as Rs. 1,564 billion and on Page 52 as Rs. 1,665 billion. The deficit is mentioned as Rs. 23.9 billion on Page 5, but Annexure III mentions it as 3.2 billion,” he said.
Dr. Senaratne said the budget proposals and allocations are not realistic. There is a proposal to build 50,000 kilometers of carpeted roads. The allocation for the purpose is Rs 20,000 million. Usually the cost for one km of carpeted road is around 12 million rupees. Accordingly the allocation would be sufficient only to build 1,600 km.
“There is another proposal to build 10,000 bridges and Rs. 7,000 million has been allocated. The cost per bridge would be around 70 million so they could build only 100 bridges. In the 2019 budget, we allocated Rs. 654 billion for relief and subsidies but this government has allocated only Rs. 581 billion by cutting off Rs. 73 billions. The government cannot release figures of the growth rate for the second and third quarters of this year because they know the figures would come in minus double digits”, he said.
The economy is on a fast track towards total collapse. So far around 45,000 Lankan workers have returned home and there are around 100,000 more to come. They would contribute to the increase in the number of unemployed which is 483,000 at present. There are around 86,000 industries in the country and of them 30,000 have faced the threat of closure,” he said.
Dr. Senaratne said that the government has proposed building pharmaceutical manufacturing institutions as if it is their own concept. “It was during our time that we started the process. We signed agreements for pharmaceutical manufacturing companies and 18 have already commenced work,” he said.
“The government gave a Rs 5,000 allowance twice as COVID-19 relief. It amounted to 0.003 percent of government revenue. Other governments in the world paid salaries to their people for months,” the Kalutara District MP said.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
