Education sector costs Govt Rs. 44,697 m for four months

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

The Government expended Rs.44,697 million during the first four months of this year to develop the education sector.

This includes Rs. 33,523 million for general education, Rs.9,159 million, vocational education and Rs.2,015 million, higher education according to the Mid Year Fiscal Position Report 2013 issued by the Finance and Planning Ministry.

A major share of Rs.1,440 million of capital expenditure for higher education has been incurred to develop infrastructure facilities of universities including classrooms and equipment to accommodate the additional intake of students.

During the first four months of this year, Rs.1,239 million has been allocated to develop 1,000 Secondary Schools. Construction work on 270 Mahindodaya laboratories has been completed and 139 are under construction. Related work has also been initiated in respect of the remaining 591 Secondary Schools. Of the 5,000 Feeder Primary Schools, 1,716 are being renovated to create a child-friendly school environment, the report stated.

The expenditure on the Government's welfare programs in the first four months of 2013 totalled Rs. 22,333 million, a 10 percent increase compared to the corresponding period of 2012. The Government continues to provide welfare assistance by addressing the needs of the poorer segments of the society.