Independence Day expenses, an investment for the future - President

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe making a special statement to Parliament on Tuesday (17) said that the Independence Day celebration expenditure is an investment for the future.

Responding to allegations that the government is spending excessively on the Independence celebrations, the President pointed out that it is an investment for the future and in the 25 years leading up to the 100th anniversary of independence, several new institutions and laws will be introduced for the reform program needed by the country.

"We have planned a program to provide 02 million low-income families with 10kg of rice per month during March and April. I would be happier if we could give them more. As we celebrate our 75th Independence, we will not allow our people to starve. We will invest the funds required to feed them," said the President.

Ranil Wickremesinghe also said that "We will have to spend another Rs. 10 billion within the next few years for the 25-year development plan. It’s been 75 years since we gained independence achieved and we are taking measures to create several institutions by the time we reach our 100th-year independence celebration to bring about the required reforms in the country."

In addition to those programs, allocations should be made for establishing 75 urban forests this year and the National Youth Platform project programs. We will also take measures to implement a 1996 housing project for low-income earners in the Colombo district and Gampaha districts, he added.