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Funds for two ministries before April 30: Kiriella
View(s):The revised Expenditure Heads of two key ministries whose votes were defeated will be presented again to Parliament before April 30, House Leader Lakshman Kiriella said on Friday.
Mr. Kiriella was responding to a query raised by United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Parliamentarian Bandula Gunawardena. The UPFA MP claimed that with the defeat of the Expenditure Heads of the Ministry of Internal & Home Affairs and Provincial Councils & Local Government and the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development on Thursday, the entire Budget process was subject to change.
Mr. Kiriella pointed out that the two ministries had sufficient funds till April 30 as Parliament had earlier passed a Vote on Account to fund the Government for the first four months of the year. “According to standing orders, the revised expenditure heads can be presented in Parliament prior to April 30,” he explained.
Mr. Gunawardena pointed out the defeated Expenditure Heads needed to be removed from the Appropriation Draft Bill. As such, a proposal on the expenditure for the two ministries should be presented to the Cabinet for approval and thereafter presented to Parliament as a supplementary estimate, he said.
Mr Kiriella said only a nominal Rs 10 would be deducted from the Expenditure Heads and the votes would be resubmitted in accordance with the Standing Orders. He added that they were prepared to meet the Opposition Leader for a discussion and take a decision in the
coming days.