President urges for strict financial discipline and management

President Maithripala Sirisena today said that since he took office he has fulfilled his duties and responsibilities in an appropriate manner when it comes to financial discipline and management of this country.

“At present, I have taken steps to cut down the expenditures of the Presidential Secretariat by 60%,” the President said, adding that he has never used charter flights for his foreign tours and he travelled by economy class with a small number of delegates.

Participating in a ceremony to declare open the newly built building complex for the Ministry of Finance, today he said he had ended an era where the public funds were wasted.

"SriLankan Airlines incurred a huge loss due to the actions of the leaders of the previous regime. It is the responsibility of the politicians and public officials to pay more attention to the idea of financial discipline and management, he said. 

He pointed out the importance of maintaining strict financial discipline and management in implementing development projects and the importance of fulfilling responsibilities from the very beginning of the year to achieve the annual goals.

The Maha Sangha including , Ven Ittepane Dhammalankara Thero, the Mahanayake of Kotte Sri Kalyani Samagri Dharma Maha Sangha Sabha, Ven Dr Kirinde Assaji Thero, other religious dignitaries, Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe, Minister of Finance, Ravi Karunanayake, Mnisters Nimal Siripala de Silva, Rishad Bardudeen, D.M. Swaminathan, State Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, Secretary to the President P.B. Abeykoon, senior officials, including Secretary of Ministry of Finance participated in this event.