Budget Promises: Beyond Parliament

Establishment of a National Agency of Public Private Partnership (NAPPP) - A national agency will be established for the purpose of identifying and facilitating investment to be undertaken in partnership with the public and private sector. Rs. 250 million is proposed to be allocated for the implementation of this proposal.

Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies

Payment for Crop Damages - The number of paddy farmers with 2 hectares or less who are in repayment arrears of cultivation loans given by the state banks as of 31.05.2022 due to the decrease in harvest, lack of fertilizers, agro-chemicals and inputs, abandonment of cultivation, etc., was 28,259. Aimed at strengthening of the farmers and freeing them from debt burden, actions are being taken to write off the outstanding loan amounting to Rs. 688 million (excluding interest) which is currently in default to the state banks. The money to be writing off will be paid back to the respective banks in two years in a phased manner so as not to put added pressure on the cash flow of the General Treasury. Accordingly, the respective banks should arrange to write off the interest 15 relating to such loans. Rs. 350 million is proposed to be allocated for the implementation of this proposal.

Department of Development Finance

Establishing Youth Agriculture Companies - It must be ensured that agriculture and entrepreneurship are fused together. It is essential that the problems are understood in order to rethink to promote our agriculture. The youth are quick to adopt new technologies. They can use innovative tools and improve efficiency across the value chain. In this context, it is proposed to establish Youth Agriculture Companies and link them with 331 Divisional Federation of Youth Clubs to get maximum results. Rs. 250 million will be allocated for this proposal.

Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs

Promotion of Domestic Dairy Production - There is a strong need to enhance domestic dairy production. Therefore, it is prudent to implement a National Programme with the support of all stakeholders through a project that will be funded by government or a development partner. Since the productivity in the highland climate is higher, the unutilized or low productivity lands of plantations could also be utilized for this project. Rs. 200 million is proposed to be allocated for this initially.

Ministry of Agriculture

Supply of Seeds and Planting Materials to Farmers - Since there is a shortage of seeds and planting material due to the decrease in the cultivated area and yield in the past, the Department of Agriculture and government farms should implement an urgent programme to supply the necessary seeds and planting material to the farmers. Accordingly, Rs. 400 million is proposed to be allocated to the Department of Agriculture to produce the necessary seeds and planting materials.

Department of Agriculture

Utilizing Unemployed Youth for the Productive Use of the Existing Government Lands - With the aim of efficiently and productively using government land for agriculture and livestock under the strategy for encouraging export-oriented agriculture, the government lands will be used efficiently and unemployed youth will be directed for that purpose. Accordingly, it is expected that 20 acres of land will be allotted to currently unemployed youth groups (groups of about 10 members) in the area where the identified lands are located for the purpose. Rs. 50 million is proposed to be allocated to implement this proposal.

Not Determined

Promotion and Commercialization of R&D Focusing on Startups - Improving R&D is important to improve Sri Lanka’s global competitive ranking in order to be successful. Rs. 100 million is proposed to be allocated to establish a mechanism to promote R&D and commercialize the same, particularly with the startup culture, with the assistance of local universities and technological institutes.

Ministry of Education

Promotion of Local Packaging Products - There is a need to reduce wastage of agricultural produce by way of improving the marketing and storage time. Therefore, food packaging industries using local raw materials should also be promoted to preservation and marketing of agricultural produce. Accordingly, 50 percent import duty concession is offered on import of advanced new technology equipment/accessories for food packaging. Apart from this, the Palmyra Development Board, National Design Center and Export Development Board should jointly introduce new packaging programme and contribute to the promotion of the export market through innovative packaging. Rs. 250 million is proposed to be allocated to implement this proposal.

Export Development Board

Implementation of Tourism Promotion Related Activities - In order to attract more tourists from September this year, the Ministry of Tourism should organize special programmes with the support of the Tourist Board and other institutions related to the tourism industry. Here, it is necessary to target the cultural /religious events that are unique to different races to be held in Sri Lanka in the future. Considering the importance of this industry, by the end of 2023, the number of tourist arrivals per year should be increased to more than 25 lakhs as the target. In addition, special attention should be paid to attract high-end tourists. Also, a five-member committee, representing various sectors, should be appointed to present a report focusing on the identification of new places of tourist attractions and the improvement of related facilities and a report containing their recommendations to be presented in a month for onward actions. Rs. 300 million is proposed to be allocated to implement these proposals.

Ministry of Tourism and Lands

Provision of Training and Qualification from Selected Vocational Training Institutes to Employees without Previous Training - In the Sri Lankan labor market, there are a large number of people who are employed without any previous training and are employed by getting skills through work. There is a need to provide more training and qualification to this group, including relevant theoretical knowledge. Through this, the productivity of work will grow, and businesses will be able to gain a competitive position in the global context by having skilled staff. Also, the job seekers will be able to find more effective employment opportunities as well as foreign employment opportunities. As a result of the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic recession, there are people who are losing their jobs, so there is a need to train them for new job opportunities. Support level staff working in free trade zone factories from rural areas tend to return to the countryside after working for about five years. Here, women often lose job opportunities and men are engaged in informal jobs. Accordingly, it is necessary to provide further training to be able to get a new job based on the skills acquired in the jobs engaged in free trade zones. Accordingly, it will be possible under this system to train and provide NVQ certificates from the selected vocational training institutes (Youth Corps, VTA, NAITA,) and TVEC, which is the regulatory body in the vocational training sector. Rs. 200 million is proposed to be allocated to implement this proposal.

State Ministry of Skills Development, Vocational Education, Research and Innovation

Use of Railway Facilities for Vegetable and Fruit Transportation to Make the Supply Chain More Efficient - The transport of vegetables, fruits, flowers and tea products from the upland areas to Colombo and urban areas is important to the farmer, the producer, the trading community as well as the consumer while preserving the freshness. Hence, it is necessary to encourage the transportation of these goods by railway. Through this, waste, delays and costs can be minimized and an additional revenue will come to the Sri Lanka Railways. As a starting point, a train with relevant facilities should be deployed to transport vegetables, fruits and other products from Hali Ela Railway Station to Colombo Fort Railway Station. Cargo loading facilities should be improved in relevant railway stations for this purpose, a system should be implemented with the participation of cooperatives and private entrepreneurs to establish cargo collection centers and provide transport facilities from those centers to the respective railway stations. Sri Lanka Railways should work to implement a suitable program to encourage wholesalers to transport goods from Colombo to Badulla. Rs. 200 million is proposed to be allocated to implement this proposal.

Department of Railways

Monthly Samurdhi Allowance - Current benefit - Monthly allowance of Rs. 420/- to Rs. 4,500/-. Proposed Benefit for the next 04 months - Monthly Minimum payment of Rs. 3,000/- to a maximum payment of Rs. 3,100/-.

Department of Samurdhi Allowance

Allowance for Elders - Current benefit - Monthly allowance of Rs. 2,000/- for over 70 years of age and Monthly allowance of Rs. 5,000/- for over 100 years of age. Proposed Benefit for the next 04 months - Monthly payment of Rs. 3,000/- for elders over 70 years and Monthly payment of Rs. 2,500/- for elders over 100 years

Ministry of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment

Support for Low-income Disabled Persons - Current benefit - Rs. 5,000/-. Proposed Benefit for the next 04 months - Monthly payment of Rs. 2,500/-.

Ministry of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment

Allowance for Kidney Patients - Current benefit - Rs. 5,000/-. Proposed Benefit for the next 04 months - Monthly payment of Rs. 2,500/-.

Ministry of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment

Relief for the Affected People from the Difficult Economic Condition (Allowance for those who are not currently receiving Samurdhi, elderly, disabled or kidney allowances but are on the waiting list) - Current benefit - Rs. 5,000/- has been granted for the month of May, June and July. Proposed Benefit for the next 04 months - Payment of Rs. 5,000/- for further 4 months.

Ministry of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment

Nutritional Food Package for Expectant Mothers - Current benefit - Rs. 20,000/- allowance are being paid. Proposed Benefit for the next 04 months - Monthly payments of Rs. 2,500/-.

Ministry of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment

Families Identified for Immediate Relief - Proposed Benefit for the next 04 months - Monthly payment of Rs. 10,000/-.

The Presidential Secretariat

State-Owned Enterprise Restructuring Unit - It is proposed to establish the “State-Owned Enterprise Restructuring Unit” to facilitate restructuring of government owned business entities. Rs. 200 million is proposed to be allocated to implement this proposal.

Ministry of Finance

Strengthen the Domestic Agriculture Development (DAD) Value Chain Programme - It is important to develop agriculture value chains as well. For this purpose, it is proposed to strengthen the Domestic Agriculture Development (DAD) Value Chain Programme. The DAD pilot phase (DAD PP) is being implemented by CBSL with its own funds (Rs. 1 billion) and it is expected to expand the program in 2023 with the assistance of the development partners, while encouraging the production for the overseas market.

Department of Agriculture

Programme to Reduce Climate Effects in Collaboration with the Climate Fund - As there is a trend of increasing accidents, disasters and property damage due to weather and climate related effects in Sri Lanka, suitable measures should be taken urgently to reduce the climate effects. For that, the Ministry in charge of the subject of environment should prepare a suitable program and obtain necessary support from the Climate Fund and implement a mitigation program accordingly.

Ministry of Environment

Establishment of Branch Campuses Focusing on STEM Subjects - Many countries in the world have opened educational opportunities to foreign students in a manner to build their foreign reserves. In the South Asian region, Bangladesh, India and Nepal have already opened up their countries to foreign students to build up their foreign reserves. Accordingly, Sri Lanka also needs to encourage private investment to provide educational opportunities to foreign students. Hence, it is proposed to facilitate the establishment of branch campuses in Sri Lanka, particularly focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects as well as finance, information technology and medicine. For this purpose, the government will provide all facilities through the Board of Investment (BOI) to establish such branch campuses as per the provision laid down in the Companies Act and Universities Act and other applicable legal provisions subject to amend them when and where necessary. The creation of space for private investment in higher education will free up government resources that will enable the state to ensure that free education is preserved and in fact expanded beyond present levels. Scholarships will also be provided to Sri Lankan students to study in these universities. It is also proposed to open a branch campus of the Kotalawala Defence University (KDU) in Kurunegala.

Ministry of Education/Ministry of Defence

Establishment of Community Units in Government Vocational Training Centers - Many people in the community living in urban and rural areas are engaged in micro-scale self-employment / livelihood occupations. By providing parttime or short-term formal training in technology and innovation for life occupations to this community, the productivity, safety and health of those jobs will increase, and the quality of products will also improve. For this purpose, it is proposed to establish a community unit in every Vocational Training Center operating under the government to empower the community and the technical services that are not available in the training center will be obtained from outside and training facilities will be provided to the community. Accordingly, work is being done to provide formal training in food and beverage preparation, fish drying and vegetable dehydrating, sewing knitting, beeralu weaving, brass industry and Black Smithing as livelihood around the training center, online self-employments based on the Gig economy and other life occupations. After the training, a certificate is also being provided. After formal training, the currently engaged profession can be done effectively and efficiently, so food and other products can be provided in quality. Through that, it is possible to confirm their job security and improve their businesses. Rs. 200 million will be allocated to implement this proposal.

Ministry of Education

Private Investment to Improve Quality and Efficiency of the Railway - Since providing efficient and high-quality transport service to the people is a priority task of the government, it is expected that private sector investments will be used for the development of the railway transport service using the existing infrastructure under this program. Accordingly, it is expected to develop the Kelaniweli train service as a pilot project. The selection of investor/s will be based on competitive bidding process.

N/A