Budget aimed at public uplift, economic development - Cabinet Spokesman

Uditha Kumarasinghe and Manjula Fernando

COLOMBO: Cabinet Spokesman and Media Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa said the Government will present a budget which will benefit both the public and the economy.

The Budget will be presented in Parliament on November 16.

The vote on the second reading of the budget will be taken on November 22.

The Committee Stage of the budget will be conducted 10 days, the Minister told the weekly Cabinet press briefing yesterday.

The vote on the third reading of the budget will be on December 6.

According to the Minister, the Budget has planned to provide more relief measures to the public while taking measures to further develop the economy.

"Even though the Government has reduced fuel prices three times, the prices of goods and other consumer items have not been reduced in keeping with the lowering of fuel prices," he said.

The Finance Ministry and the Central Bank are taking various measures to bring down the increasing cost of living and inflation, the Minister added.