Additional allowance for school children through next budget: President

Colombo, October 20 (Daily Miror)- The government is expecting to increase salaries of public servants, provide an additional allowance for school children and increase the allowance for low income families through the budget for 2025 which is to be presented before March next year, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today.

Speaking at an election rally in Homagama, he said the government will present a Vote on Account in December for the first three months of 2025 as there in no sufficient time to present a budget.

The President said the government is reviewing all the projects which have commenced in the country, adding that some of them have been suspended while some other projects are not being directed towards the expected directions.

"We have instructed the relevant institutions to create a map of all the projects to identify their locations. That is the plan to rescue the rural people from poverty. We will increase the allowance paid to low income families through the next budget," he said. 

He also said the government will prioritise digitalising the state sector, adding that a new Ministry will be set up for this purpose. 

"A Sri Lankan expert in the field, who is currently abroad has agreed to come to Sri Lanka to take up the task of digitalisation. He will be appointed Secretary to the new Ministry and the chairman of the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA). We will make the state sector the most efficient sector within two to three years," the President added.