2015 Interim Budget presented in Parliament

Ravi Karunanayake, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, presented the interim Budget for the fiscal year of 2015 to Parliament, a short while ago.

National Budget for the fiscal year of 2015 was presented to the Parliament by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, on 24 October, 2014.

The interim Budget presented at the Parliament today has ensured easing the tax burden on consumers and certain proposals to reduce the prices of ten essential commodities. It has also proposed to increase the salaries of public servants.

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Update-
1.30 p.m. Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe while addressing the session said that some stern decisions about casinoes has been taken during the Cabinet meeting held, yesterday.

1.45 p.m. Stock market has come a laughing stock under the previous regime. And the super rich stop market barons followed a pump and dump policy leading to the deterioration of the stock market, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said.   

1.50 p.m. The previous Government lost some US$ 120 Million due to the hedging deal of the CPC, Karunanayake said.

2.00 p.m. The complete Government debt at the end of 2014 was Rs. 8817 billion, and accordingly net debt per capita stands at Rs 427,220, he added.

2.15 p.m. Samurdhi benefits and allowance to increase before April 2015.

2.20 p.m. Funds allocated for Education increased to 6% of the GDP

2.32 p.m. 50% of the loans taken by farmers will be written off, remainder will be compounded to allow for payment on easy terms.

2.34 p.m. Guaranteed price of liquid milk to be increased by Rs.10,Karunanayake added.

2.38 p.m. Decentralized funds of a Member of Parliament to be increased from Rs 5mn to Rs.10mn. Govt. allocates Rs. 1120 million for the increase.

2.45 p.m. OPDs of all the state owned hospitals across the country will be remain opened for 24-hours, he added.

3.15 p.m. Taxes imposed on Mobile phone Reloads removed from consumers, Telecommunications Companies asked to bear the tax.

3.28 p.m. Sports channels with over 5 transmission stations will have to pay a one-time tax of Rs. 1000 million

3.31 p.m. Sri Lankan Airlines and Mihin Lanka merged

3.42 p.m. Migrant workers SLBFE registration fee reduced to Rs.5000

Interim Budget 2015 by deranapics