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UNP-SLFP committee to review 2017 Budget
View(s):The two main Government partners – the United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) – will review proposals for the November 10 budget with Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake.
“This is to ensure harmony and the proposals are introduced with the concurrence of both sides,” Mr Karunanayake told the Sunday Times. He said this would obviate issues being raised by one side or the other after the budget is presented.
The UNP team is made up of Ministers Mangala Samaraweera, Malik Samarawickrema, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam and Harin Fernando. The SLFP team will comprise Sarath Amunugama, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Mahinda Amaraweera, Susil Premajayantha and Deputy Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna. The committee will meet at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday (tomorrow).
The Committee has been appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena in concurrence with Finance Minister Karunanayake. The idea is to ensure that key proposals, particularly those which concern the public, are acceptable to the two parties that constitute the Government. One of the main reasons for the appointment of the committee is the controversy generated after the previous budget was introduced.
The upcoming budget was among the subjects of discussion when President Sirisena met a select group of ministers on Tuesday night.
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