Budget 2017, concentrating on long-term development and ensuring relief to the people, after incorporating the views and proposals of UNP and the SLFP in the National Unity Government, will be presented to Parliament by Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake on Thursday, November 10. The debate on the second reading of the Budget will commence on Friday, November 11 and will continue until November 18. The Second Reading division will be taken on November 18. The Committee Stage Debate will be held from November 18 to December 10 and the Third Reading vote will be taken on December 10.
Budget 2017 will be based on the policy of the ‘Maithri Palanayak, Isthawara Ratak’ which will also incorporate the SLFP’s vision of ‘a guarantee for a bright future’ and the UNP’s ‘five-fold plan’. It would also reflect certain features of the MoU signed by the General Secretaries of the SLFP and the UNP on August 21, 2015, Government sources told the Sunday Observer yesterday.
According to the sources, the fast-tracked development, fixing loss-making Government infrastructure, employment and loan repayment are in sharp focus in the Budget while priority has been given to create one million job opportunities and achieve development goals.
The Budget hopes to reduce the deficit by 4.4 percent. The intention of the Government is to present a stable Budget without burdening the public and also helping them to generate incomes, they said.
According to the Finance Ministry sources, Minister Karunanayake has received 2,200 proposals from the public for Budget 2017. These 2,200 proposals have come from institutions, organizations, trade unions and individuals. We have been able to consider a number of such proposals which will pave the way to address many concerns and issues raised by the people, they said.
The Appropriation Bill presented to Parliament by the Finance Minister on October 20 stated that the total Government expenditure for next year is over Rs 1,819 billion. However, the amount shows a drop in the Government expenditure when compared to expenditure this year which is Rs. 1,941 billion.