Gazette notice restricts monthly allowance

A gazette notice was issued by Presidential Secretary P.B. Jayasundere restricting to Rs.100,000 the monthly allowance of Chairmen of Corporations and Boards and the provision of only one official vehicle.

The Gazette dated January 13, 2020, was circulated to all Ministry Secretaries and Secretaries to State Ministers, Provincial Chief Secretaries, Secretaries of Provincial Governors, Heads of Departments and Heads of Government Corporations and Statutory Boards.

This gazette notice had been issued on the orders of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa under the programme of limiting state expenditure.

According to the gazette notice 150 litres of fuel a month or an equivalent amount as an allowance would be paid to chairmen of corporations and statutory boards.

The gazette further instructs authorities not to appoint Executive Directors to any Corporation or Statutory Board and if already appointed suitable steps to be taken in this regard.

The monthly allowance paid to Directors was limited to Rs.25,000 and that there be no change irrespective of the number of meetings attended by them. It states that no official vehicles would be allocated to the directors and transport facilities to be provided only to attend Board Meetings and that in the event any director was being provided with transport facilities outside these instructions, approval for such deviations should be approved by the General Treasury.

The gazette notice highlights the importance of saving at least 25% of the budgetary allocations.  (Ajantha Kumara Agalakada)