Treasury says paid Rs.84bn due on various projects

Mangala Samaraweera

The national treasury has paid off Rs.84, 461 million due by December 31, 2018 for various programmes and projects implemented under different government ministries and institutions.
Earlier, the treasury had been informed that Rs.99, 415 million was due on December 31, 2018 for completing various projects undertaken by various government institutions. 
Treasury Secretary, Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga stated that 85 percent out of the total due payment has already been paid off. 

He said there are some shortcomings in the balance, and action will be taken to pay off it once such issues are cleared.

Having completed various contracts, constructions and procurements, government ministries and other institutions forward their vouchers to the treasury for payment by the end of the month of December each year. 

The Finance Ministry said the treasury has been continuously making payments for such vouchers within the first three to four months of the following year since 2015.  
However, there was a delay in making such payments as did in the past, in the last quarter of 2018 due to the uncertainty that hit the country. 

At the same time, the passing of budget 2019 could not be achieved in the year 2018. It was delayed until April 5th, 2019. Consequent to this delay, the sum of due payments at the end of 2018 was accumulated up to Rs.99 billion. 

Meanwhile, the Finance Ministry said the Public Finance Department of the Treasury has been making arrangements to digitalize the government procurement system, which will allow the treasury to make all future due payments for government procurements soon after such particular projects are completed.