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Travel ban for ministers during Budget debate
View(s):President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has barred Ministers, State Ministers and officials from travelling overseas ahead of the Government’s second Budget which will be presented to Parliament on Friday.
In a circular sent to secretaries to all Ministries and State Ministries, Presidential Secretary P.B. Jayasundera instructed that no foreign travel, either official or personal, be planned for the month-long Budget period and instead they should fully contribute to the Budget debates.
Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa will present the 2022 Budget in Parliament on Friday at 2 p.m. It will be the first Budget presentation for the newly appointed Finance Minister.
The debate on the Appropriation Bill will continue for 26 days, starting from November 13 with the second reading of the vote scheduled for November 22. The committee stage debate on the Bill will continue till December 10.
The circular stated that for special occasions, instead of travelling overseas, relevant representations could be provided to foreign embassies by the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
According to the Bill, Government expenditure for 2022 is estimated at Rs. 2.5 trillion, with the limit of borrowing set at Rs. 3.18 trillion.
The Bill authorises the raising of loans in or outside Sri Lanka for such service, makes financial provision in respect of certain government activities during the coming financial year and enables the payment by way of advances out of the Consolidated Fund or any other fund or moneys, of or at the disposal of the Government, required during that financial year for expenditure on such activities.