7 November 2016 12:00 am
Another phase of discussion to obtain proposals from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) was held at the Finance Ministry on November 4. A group of SLFP seniors participated in this discussion chaired by Finance Minister
Ravi Karunanayake.
The participants have extensively discussed further the series of proposals made by them during the first phase of the previous discussion held on October 25.
Addressing the SLFP participants, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said that a second discussion was also called in order to make budget 2017 a more people-friendly one.
He also said that the attention has been drawn to make the essential changes to the budget even one week ahead of presenting it to parliament. The minister further said that over 2000 proposals gathered from various factions of society have been used in preparing the budget this time.
SLFP Ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva, A.H.M. Fowzie, Faizer Mustapa, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana, Thilanga Sumathipala, Lakshman Senevirathna and Lasantha Alagiyawanna and several deputy ministers participated in
the discussion.
In addition, Finance Ministry Secretary Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga, Deputy Treasury Secretaries S.R. Artigala and A.R. Deshapriya were also present at the discussion.