‘Budget has spelt out country’s forward march’

Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI

The Government as the enabler will do its part as spelled out in the budget and the private sector must take this opportunity to build a better Sri Lanka.

Speaking at a seminar on National Budget 2010 at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Finance and Planning Ministry’s Fiscal policy Director General S.R. Attygalle highlighted the importance of developing the irrigation and road sector in the country.

The Government has allocated Rs 83 billion for road development, he said.

Attygalle said Sri Lanka cannot depend any more on rain water for agriculture and irrigation projects must come up. The ports are also developing fast and by 2015, 450 acres around the Galle Face Hotel area will be developed.

Attygalle said that investment is the key factor and this budget has shown where to invest and how to invest with a whole heap of avenues to investing.

This will put infrastructure, regulatory framework and services in place. He said there will be a tax reduction in the coming budget in November.

All excess taxes will be reduced for raw material.

“The country is still importing a certain amount of tea for value addition and this tax reduction will give lot of benefits,” he said.