Sri Lanka’s five main ministries controlled by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his brother Basil are to consume nearly 45 per cent of the total 2013 budget. This includes allocations made to 62 ministries including ministries of senior ministers.
A sum of Rs. 604.8 billion has been allocated for five ministries coming under the president and his brother. Estimated government expenditure for 2013 is Rs. 2.52 trillion. According to the 2013 Appropriation Bill presented in parliament recently, the president’s office has been allocated a sum of over Rs.7.4 billion next year. Accordingly the day’s expenditure of the President’s office will be around Rs. 20 million per day. The Ministry of Defence and Urban Development headed by the president and handled by his brother and secretary Gotabaya has been allocated nearly Rs.290 billion, the single highest allocation in the November 8 budget. The Ministry of Highways has been allocated Rs.131.61billion while a sum of Rs. 87.46 billion was given to the Ministry of Finance and Planning. The Ministry of Economic Development coming under Basil Rajapaksa has been allocated Rs.88.9 billion.
ST
