Finance Ministry Secretary S.R. Atygalle informed the Public Finance Committee of Parliament yesterday that Rs. 1,124 billion or 74% of the 2020 fiscal revenue has been received so far. This is out of the Rs. 1,580 billion estimated total Government revenue for this year, he said.
At the meeting chaired by SLPP MP Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, the Committee reviewed the allocation of funds under the 2020 Budget in accordance with Standing Order 121, prior to submitting a report to Parliament on the estimates.
SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva pointed out that it is very important that all data related to the budget be extremely accurate as it will have a severe impact on the future economic situation of the country, both locally and internationally.
The Committee Chairman asked the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance and the Treasury whether there could be any positive expectations regarding the revenue for the year 2020. Atygalle noted that while the economic downturn in the first quarter of the year was real, expectations for the second and third quarters were very positive.
Several members of the Committee noted that if the data pertaining to the Budget presented to the House is accurate, the country’s economy would be on good footing.
Meanwhile, Chairman Yapa informed the Committee that Parliamentarians Hesha Vithanage and Chaminda Wijesiri have resigned from the Committee.
Others who attended the meeting are State Minister Susil Premajayantha and Members of Parliament M.A. Sumanthiran, Dilan Perera, Anupa Pasqual and Sahan Pradeep.
(FT)