Vote on account before presidential poll or fully-fledged budget after- Govt. weighs options

The government weighs whether to move a vote an account to seek parliamentary approval to seek allocations to cover expenditure during the remainder of this year or to present a fully-fledged budget after, State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe said yesterday.

The minister told Daily Mirror that a vote on account would be practical as it will not comprise any new expenditure policies. “We shall be asking for the House’s approval to continue with the existing policies through a vote on account. Therefore, such an eventuality would be possible and practical. Also, a vote on account could be brought in before the presidential poll,” he said.

“However, we are looking at the possibility of bringing in a budget after the Presidential Election. This will depend on when the President hopes to dissolve the House after the Presidential Election. We will also have to look at the political stability and determine how many seats the ruling party would command. Also, we will have to have lengthy discussions if a budget is going to be presented. One has to determine whether there is adequate time for all these exercises,” he added.

He said the ruling party is discussing these matters at the moment and a final decision would be arrived at soon.