JVP wants govt. to present an amended budget

By Saman Indrajith

JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday called on the government to submit an amended budget to Parliament because three new ministrieshave been set up after the presentation of Budget 2021.

 “A budget was presented to this House and it is being debated at the committee stage. After the tabling of the budget proposals three new ministries have been set up. Now, we are debating this budget without allocations for those ministries. Allocations have been made for statutory bodies that would come under those ministries but how could those ministries function without funds? How would the salaries of ministry employees and other expenses in the ministries be covered from Jan 1. Therefore, we ask the government whether it would submit an amended budget before the end of this debate.”

“A ministry should have an expenditure head. It is the allocations under expenditure heads we are debating. There is no expenditure head for the Ministry of Public Security or the minister. There is no expenditure head for the ministry of technology or that minister. However, there are expenditure heads for the institutions coming under those ministries. This matter should be debated.

Leader of the House,S Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena: JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake raised similar questions with regard to the representation of the President in Parliament. The Prime Minister would represent the President in the House and give answers on behalf of the President. Most of those expenditure heads belonging to the institutions which would be placed under the new ministries, have been discussed. If a need arises we would introduce changes on the last day. We do not see there is a big issue in this matter.

MP Dissanayake: Yes, the allocations have been made to the institutions coming under the ministries but there are expenses in the ministry. How would the Minister find funds to refuel her vehicle? How would the ministry employees be paid? How would the rent of those ministry buildings be paid? In addition, those expenses have to be debated. We need additional time to debate them before the final vote.