Post-CHOGM: New supplementary estimates to cover spending
View(s):The government is grappling with overspending for Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting (CHOGM) held in Colombo on November 15–17, 2013.
According to a second supplementary estimate, a sum of Rs.353,562 908 (Rs. 353.5 million) has been sought from the Treasury to settle CHOGM expenses in addition to earlier allocations made for summit expenses.
The first supplementary estimate for CHOGM spending was submitted last year seeking over Rs. 1 billion to cover the expenses.
Informed sources said that a large sum of money running into millions of rupees is yet to be settled for construction contractors and some service providers for their work for CHOGM.
Expenditure estimates for the CHOGM were not made in the 2013 or 2014 budgets but some supplementary estimates have appeared recently and the actual (final) expenditure is yet to be announced.
According to one supplementary estimate, the External Affairs Ministry has sought Rs.282.5 million to settle the bills due for payment for CHOGM expenses.
An additional sum of Rs. 66 million has been granted to the Ministry of Mass Media and Information through this supplementary estimate to meet expenditure incurred for media propaganda campaigns.
The National Budget Department of the Treasury has sought millions to pay insurance cover of vehicles leased out temporarily for CHOGM.
A senior official said the Treasury will not directly include the CHOGM expenditure even in 2015 budget.
An earlier estimated expenditure of Rs. 6 billion for the summit — including the import of vehicles was pruned down to Rs. 3.5 billion due to financial constraints, as reported in the Sunday Times in May 2013.
The following was a breakdown of the expenditure in terms of a report submitted to the Cabinet by Minister Neomal Perera, who was then acting Minister of External Affairs in July 2013 as reported in the Sunday Times:
Accommodation (Rs. 85 million), Commonwealth Business Forum (Rs. 90 million), Commonwealth People’s Forum (Rs. 95 million), Official Engagements and Hospitality (Rs. 290 million), Spouses’ Programme (Rs. 35 million), Social Programme (Rs. 75 million), Retreat (Rs. 80 million), Accreditation (Rs. 850 million), Meeting Venues (Rs. 145 million) and Miscellaneous (Rs. 105 million).
In addition, the Ministry of Mass Media spent a further Rs. 975 million. It was for its website (Rs. 15 million), Media Centre (Rs. 800 million) and for a Public Awareness Campaign (Rs. 160 million). According to this estimate the total expenditure was Rs.2.8 billion.
According to the Information and Media Ministry sources, the Commonwealth Secretariat funded 50 per cent of the total cost to host the meeting while the Sri Lankan Government received sponsorship money for the rest of the activities.