PM sets example in cutting down expenditure

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena has led by example when it comes to cutting down on unnecessary State expenditure.

The expenditure incurred by the Prime Minister’s Office has been reduced by 46% compared to last year, the Prime Minister said. Expenses at the office had been reduced by 21% in 2022 compared to the previous year while it had been further reduced by 46% by October of 2023.

The Prime Minister's Office had been allocated Rs. 1661.7 million in the 2021 Budget and the entire amount had been spent during that year. In 2022 however, after Mr Gunawardena took over as Premier, the office had spent only Rs. 1310.4 million of its Rs. 1432.8 million allocation for that year. In 2023, this had been cut down further, with just Rs. 705.7 million out of its Rs. 1012 million allocation for the year spent by October, according to the PM.

One major reason for expenses coming down was the reduction in the number of staff at the office, from a peak of more than 500 during 2021-2022 to 285 at present. Accordingly, the expenses incurred for salaries has reduced by 39% while stationery expenses had reduced by 74%, the PM said. Posts and telecommunication expenses have gone down by 36%, vehicle maintenance by 70%, fuel by 36% and machinery maintenance by 31%. Despite a significant reduction in these expenses, work at the office had been carried out without any disruption, he pointed out.

The tasks vested by the Cabinet to the Prime Minister's Office too are continuing. The National Operations Centre established at the office to resolve issues relating to 262 mega projects operates on a weekly basis. Meanwhile, other priorities such as drafting a national water resources policy, national digital policy, sustainable energy policy and a strategic framework for education are continuing successfully, Mr Gunawardena said.