Government’s four months’ education bill costs Rs 11,000m

by Uditha KUMARASINGHE

The Government has spent Rs. 10,977 million on education under the general education sector during the first four months of 2012. Another Rs. 5,737 million have also been expended on the higher education sector.

According to the Mid-Year Fiscal Position Report 2012 issued by the Finance and Planning Ministry the capital expenditure on improving infrastructure facilities of universities was Rs. 1,118 million during the first four months of this year while Rs. 1,238 million had been spent on infrastructure development in the general education sector during this period. The Government’s expenditure on free school text books, uniforms, season tickets and free Dhamma school books and bursaries amounted to Rs. 3,352 million from January to May compared to Rs. 2,234 million in the previous year, the report said.

The Government’s expenditure on welfare payments and subsidies in the first five months of the year totalled Rs. 32,565 million, a 22 percent increase compared to the corresponding period last year. The Government continues to provide welfare assistance amounting to Rs. 5,403 million for the poorer segments of society including Samurdhi relief, flood and drought relief and meals and dry rations for displaced persons.