A Rs 229 billion economic relief package announced

3 January 2022 09:31 pm - 42 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Government today announced a Rs 229 billion economic relief package which comprises a Rs 5000, salary hike for state workers, increasing of pensions, Samurdhi and special stimulus payment for home gardens.

Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa told a press conference that the cabinet today decided to grant an allowance of Rs.5000 for state workers while pensions will also be increased by Rs.5000.

In addition, allowance for the disabled soldiers will be increased by Rs 5000. The owners of private companies will be asked to increase salaries of their workers. A stimulus package was also announced for home gardens under which Rs.5000 will be paid for growing of crops in home gardens which is up to 20 perches and Rs 20,000 for those who own home gardens which extends from 20 perches to one acre.

“We encourage the people to grow food crops in their home gardens in order to avoid a scarcity of food,” the Minister said.

The package also includes compensation for the farmers if their harvest is reduced. “We anyway expect that the Maha harvest will be reduced by 30 percent to 40 percent and therefore farmers will be paid an extra Rs 25 per Kg of paddy,” he said.

In addition, 15 Kgs of wheat flour will be provided at Rs.80 a kilo for estate workers while medicine and essential food items will be exempted from tax.

“The government was planning the relief package for the people who were hit by the pandemic even before the budget,” Mr. Rajapaksa said.

The Minister also announced that the cabinet decided to start dialogue with each donor country and agencies including IMF, WB and ADB.

A Minister dedicated to negotiations with each country and agency will be appointed shortly according to the Minister. “Donor agencies have issued reports on Sri Lanka which comprises mix reactions on Sri Lanka’s performance.

Accordingly they have praised Sri Lanka’s COVID 19 vaccine programs while coming up with some criticism,” he said. (Yohan Perera)

Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

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Comments - 42

ravin Monday, 03 January 2022 10:02 PM

Bite the bate. vote for us again

JOAN Baas Monday, 03 January 2022 10:07 PM

AS LONG AS THE PRINTING MACHINE EXISTS !!!

vithura Monday, 03 January 2022 10:08 PM

When the real value of rupee is eaten by hyper inflation from printing money, this allowance would only have further spiralling of prices. Comedy of errors with no end in sight, bless the voters!

joshua Monday, 03 January 2022 10:09 PM

ha haa.... laying the foundation for a PM post with goodies.

Nadi Karunaratne Monday, 03 January 2022 10:16 PM

Print more and more money.......what could possibly go wrong?

Lalith Monday, 03 January 2022 10:18 PM

What is the total additional cost of these allowaance projected to be? Was it in the budget preented recently? It not, how is it going to be funded? Would it be by printing more currency notes?

Mahila Tuesday, 04 January 2022 03:18 AM

No! The funds are to be provided by Santa Claus from S Marino! Lock, Stock and Barrell. 1 Billion US $!! Believe or not, the package is very generous and would be good to suffering poor. Appreciated.

Upulpb Monday, 03 January 2022 10:20 PM

High speed printing is all what I'd required

Kikazaru Monday, 03 January 2022 10:21 PM

The louder the hoot the bigger the increase. Ha Ha Ha!

Patriot Sri Lankans Monday, 03 January 2022 10:42 PM

Giving more to government servants by printing money increase inflation and kill general public

Prof Gunarathne Monday, 03 January 2022 11:00 PM

Just study the global situations amidst pandemic. How much money those counties have printed? Inflation is super high even in the US even though the economy was never closed due to COVID. You have to live with COVID with economic is opened.

Bandu Monday, 03 January 2022 11:36 PM

Deeper we dig our holes to go under. So buy another 3 months from the people till the inflation skyrockets with more printed money in these peoples hands.

Citizen Tuesday, 04 January 2022 01:30 AM

Yes what else they can do with the newly printed currency

Mahila Tuesday, 04 January 2022 01:33 PM

Why? Entebbe Airport and Kampala is waiting with open arms for another couple of plane loads!?

Saran Tuesday, 04 January 2022 02:00 AM

Awesome let's ruin SL until no point of return

Lal.Fernando. Tuesday, 04 January 2022 02:10 AM

Just observe the body language of this individual. He opens his mouth and tell lies.

Pantha Kumaran Tuesday, 04 January 2022 02:17 AM

We need to print more money. That is an easy job. Of course inflation will rise. Who cares. Can the Finance Minister explain to us what is his medium and long term plan. Is it borrowing more money from China and India. Only few weeks ago CB Governor told us he will not go to IMF and some ministers told us they will resign from their post if you go to IMF.Who is running our country today?

Citizen Tuesday, 04 January 2022 03:01 AM

We voted for SLPP , not for this man for any ministerial positions ! Get lost!!

BuffaloaCitizen Tuesday, 04 January 2022 02:53 PM

First you get lost, because your'll are the 69% bastards who have voted for this kind of monkeys and ruined this nation.

Bandu Tuesday, 04 January 2022 03:11 AM

This guy should be in prison for corruption. But sadly he is the finance minister. Printing money only going to push up prices, we are on the way to becoming Venezuela, where prices were rising by over 100%

SHEHAN Moses Tuesday, 04 January 2022 03:59 AM

In other words £229 billion printed in 5000 notes by dear old fella Cabral.

Ralaharamy Tuesday, 04 January 2022 06:54 AM

Our Basil is the MAN of THE HOUR. We can buy 4 kg. Green Chilly a month for our food. So we thank him. We will make a life size statue for you SIR!. YES SIR!.

Sunil Tuesday, 04 January 2022 06:57 AM

A vain attempt to evade the justified wrath of the people which culminated in hooting. The government made a mockery of democracy by arresting an activist merely because she shared a facebook post. People's anger cannot be suppressed by this type of thuggery. This additional cost can only be met by printing more money which will further activate another vicious cycle of price increases.

Don Tuesday, 04 January 2022 07:08 AM

Where are the bloody professionals? Other than printing money, where can we find 229 billion rupees? We lost tax money from Stupid tax relief in 2019. Economists should explain this to public and make sure not to give their votes no matter what they do now. All must think of their future generation and cheese these people out. Wake up experts and do your job. We can not go on like this. Just hooting is not enough

janp Tuesday, 04 January 2022 07:20 AM

Election is nearing? OR Bait? More Money Printing? OR Stolen USD TRILLIONS Replaced? Which one of these OR All matters Included?

Sachin Tuesday, 04 January 2022 07:20 AM

I am from Mumbai. I keep reading about Sri Lanka economic woes from all business papers. The fiscal management is indeed worrisome. What has also broken the back of the debt repayment ability is chinese loans. It figures among the top reasons. Ditto For Pakistan, however there the government has little control as the Army calls the shots. Again China factor. Can you not break away from this Chinese debt trap?

Lawry Tuesday, 04 January 2022 07:24 AM

Are government servants a special breed? Given employment in return for votes. Filling seats but lethargic at work. Demands with strikes. Unfair to give special treatment.

Premalal Perera Tuesday, 04 January 2022 07:27 AM

Before you say "Sahana Malla" the prices will catch it up. We are printing our way into disaster. The next will be the pressure on the private sector. The export sector will soon collapse with rising internal costs and a fixed exchange rate.

Sam Tuesday, 04 January 2022 08:00 AM

Next will be the increase in tax to the private sector to pay for these bad decisions. Final nail in the coffin. Still public employees will vote for you which is the purpose of this move I assume.

P A S P Prerea Tuesday, 04 January 2022 08:06 AM

This means that 292 billions to be printed next year. Hyper inflation is expected.

Maqs Tuesday, 04 January 2022 08:09 AM

Oh... What foolish decisions this government is taking! Hope and our people are intelligent enough to understand these GUNDUS

Jude Tuesday, 04 January 2022 08:46 AM

මූ කියන්නේ හරියට සල්ලි ගෙදරින් ගෙනාවා වාගේ !! හහ්

Gayan Tuesday, 04 January 2022 08:48 AM

Increasing the salaries of state employees is a waste. No productivity at all.

Karalasingam Sivalingam Tuesday, 04 January 2022 08:59 AM

Aladin and wonder lamb in action.

mahesh Tuesday, 04 January 2022 09:32 AM

smile on his face say-see how I fooled you guys

Jude Tuesday, 04 January 2022 09:59 AM

මේවා ඡන්ද ගුණ්ඩු ඔව්!!

Karalasingam Sivalingam Tuesday, 04 January 2022 10:16 AM

Is it to ward off election defeat?

Citizen Tuesday, 04 January 2022 10:54 AM

These steps are to destroy the economy fully before leaving the country so that a future Government cannot manage.

mahinda pathirage Tuesday, 04 January 2022 11:07 AM

In the budget speech

True citizen Tuesday, 04 January 2022 11:15 AM

The theory is whatever happens "They only need to remain in power". Let the country (people) suffer, joy ride continues

Dinesh ram Tuesday, 04 January 2022 02:53 PM

Where you gonna find Income for the package and what ensures the package will be reached to right people?

sam Tuesday, 04 January 2022 04:04 PM

Dont get excited because this is only an announcement.

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A Rs 229 billion economic relief package announced

Comments - 42

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