Stakeholders’ views sought for Budget 2012

Prior to preparing the 2012 Budget, Finance Ministry Secretary Dr P.B.Jayasundera visited most of the districts and met stakeholders to seek their views on the budget. Last year President Mahinda Rajapaksa too visited all districts in addition to having meetings with all sectors and stakeholders at Temple Trees, said a Finance Ministry source.

At present President Rajapaksa is meeting representatives of different sectors at Temple Trees to obtain their views on the Budget. The President has already met the representatives of farmer associations, small entrepreneurs and trade chambers.

He also had a meeting with chairmen and boards of directors of state banks recently.

The chairmen of state banks presented mid year information on the economic progress achieved by each bank.

How the state banks should adapt themselves to the structural changes in the country expected by the Government by 2015, was also discussed. It was stressed that the banks need to extend their activities beyond the sphere of traditional banking.

Minister of International Monetary Cooperation Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa, Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Geethanjana Gunawardena, Finance Ministry Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundara, Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal and chairmen and directors of state banks were also present.

(SG)