The Parliament today passed the Government's Appropriation Bill for 2009 seeking 980 billion rupees. The Bill projects expenditure estimates before the annual budget scheduled for next month. According to sources, this budget is reported to shoulder increased defense expenses of 177 billion rupees (US$ 1.6 billion), an increase of 6 percent from this year's expenses of 166.4 billion.
Defense spending is a priority for the government along with the development programs work in the newly liberated areas. Political observers say an increase in defense expenses is necessary to wipe out the Tiger terror expressing hope that an end to the war will bring foreign investment and economic development in the country.