Finance Minister invites public to be stakeholders

The Minister of Finance Ravi Karunanayake today called upon all concerned to send in their strategic proposals to be included in the new government?s budget proposal to be presented for the year 2016.

As the new government has been elected to office on the promise of Building the Economy, Fighting corruption, Ensuring freedom, Developing infrastructure and investment and Developing education under its five point plan spelled out in its policy paper to create a new country in 60 months, the Minister requested the public and the private sector institutions and the general public to? be the stake holders? in the budget process by submitting their proposals to be included in the proposed budget for the year- 2016.

Accordingly, the public sector institutions such as ministries, departments, public enterprises and semi government institutions and the trade chambers and professionals are invited to forward their proposals aimed at increasing productivity and economic development in varied fields aimed at providing dividends to the masses for creating good governance in the country.

The Director General of the Trade and Investment policy Dept of the Finance ministry said that the proposals were also invited from the general public and the pressure groups with regard to multi faceted benefits derived from the social welfare schemes, management of public sector income and expenditure and the infrastructure development.

The Finance ministry also expects proposals for policy improvements in the area of Trade and Investment, SME sector and the deployment of the Labour Force from the relevant public and private sector organizations to be included in the next year?s budget proposals.

If the proposals submitted are leading towards increasing the efficiency and productivity further discussions will be held with the proponents before arriving at a final decision.

Among the other areas the Finance ministry looks for public proposals are promotion of good governance through development of living standards of the people and the sectoral wise proposals for the development of health and education. (Colombo Gazette)