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

By Yohan Perera

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.