State Minister Of Finance Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena Requested The President To Avoid Officials Flying From Business Class As A Part Of Reducing Budget Deficit

The Sate Minister Of Finance Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena has requested the President Maithripala Sirisena to avoid Government Officials from flying Business Class of National Carrier to cut the unnecessary expenditure as a part of the Government's effort to reduce the rising budget deficit.

State Minister Abeywardena has also asked the President Sirisena to personally intervene to implemet a strong fiscal management system in the country and directed all government ministers and officials to monitor financial management of their ministries.

Government has recently increased the Value Added Tax(VAT) of certain goods and services by 4%  to increase the government revenue by Rs.100 billion in 2016 in response to repeated requests from International Monetary Fund(IMF).