Systemic reviews ...

“Through a zero based budgeting methodology, double counting of programmes expenditure wastage, low priority activities and efficient and productive methodologies of utilising the allocation of existing provisions will be recognised through a systematic review,”the Department of Government Information said.

Under the zero-based budgeting methodology, the Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Bandula Gunawardana highlighted that efforts are underway to settle all payments owed to suppliers and contractors within the fiscal year instead of carrying it forward for the following fiscal year.

With State revenue estimated at 8.3 percent of GDP in 2022 below the minimum requirement of 20 percent of the GDP, the Minister remarked that the government would focus on maintaining essential government services amid extreme financial constraints.

Accordingly, he noted that the government would mainly focus on key recurrent expenditure categories such as salaries and pensions, Samurdhi and other social safety net programmes and interest payments to creditors under the current financial constraints.