2019 Budget in Parliament tomorrow

The 2019 Budget proposal will be presented in Parliament tomorrow. The Budget speech will be presented before Parliament, by Minister of Finance Mangala Samaraweera. The third reading of the Budget or the committee stage debate will commence on the 13th of March.

The government said the main aim of the 2019 Budget is to increase state income through net local products by over 17%.

The government aims to present a performance based budget.

Accordingly the Finance Ministry said provisions will be allocated for the expenditure heads of Ministries based on the active plan presented by the relevant Ministry for projects and programmes.

The government aims to maintain the increase rate of the state income which was maintained since 2015 by the present government.

The Ministry also noted it will work to increase state income by maintaining the increase in income tax and export income.

Several Members of Parliament expressed their views over tomorrow’s Budget.

Minister Ravi Karunanayake says the 2019 Budget will be people friendly.

The Minister said the Budget is focused on granting concessions to the public and easing the burden on the people.

He added the Budget will focus on fixing what is wrong claiming it is important to rid the public from their burdens.

Parliamentarian Dayasiri Jayasekera said granting concessions through the 2019 Budget will only lead the country to further destitution.

he MP said a country that has no economic footing, should not be given relief through a Budget.

He noted the country is in need of a new government with a new vision economically, socially and culturally.