News

Budget 2025 to be postponed

Published

7 months ago

October 14, 2024

editor

The government has decided to postpone the presentation of the 2025 budget proposals. Although a budget for 2025 was initially scheduled to be presented in November this year, the upcoming parliamentary General Election has led to its postponement.

As a result, the newly formed government will first present a vote on account to cover the expenses for the first four months of 2025, followed by the full national budget for the year.

After the General Election, scheduled for November 14, the new government must officially gazette ministries and the relevant institutions. Following this, they will need to prepare estimates of expenses, development proposals, and revenue collection strategies for the upcoming year.

Due to the limited time available for these tasks, the government will first focus on submitting a vote on account for the initial four months of 2025, government sources said.

This Interim Bill will ensure that essential expenses and day-to-day operations of the government are funded and approved by Parliament during the first quarter of 2025.

After this, the Ministries and their functions will be systematically allocated and gazetted based on a scientific foundation. Once these arrangements are in place, the full national budget for 2025 will be presented. Finance Ministry sources indicate that the government will expedite the process of presenting the complete 2025 budget as soon as possible.

(Dailynews.lk)

(This story, originally published by Dailynews.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

News

Internal disputes delay LG member lists

Published

10 hours ago

May 17, 2025

editor

Due to various issues that have arisen within many political parties during the selection of members for LG bodies, submission of name lists to the Election Commission (EC) are being delayed, reports say.

As a result, the establishment of LG bodies is expected to be delayed further.

In this backdrop, the EC has instructed all political parties and independent groups to submit their name lists within a week.

The gazette on the newly appointed members will follow only after the EC receives all lists.

(Source : Lankadeepa)

News

Ministry cancels Br. Charles’ program at Padeniya temple

Published

10 hours ago

May 17, 2025

editor

The Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs has issued a letter over a program organized by Br. Charles Thomas.

The relevant program is scheduled to be held today (May 17) at the historic Padeniya temple and is allegedly scheduled to be held in a manner that is harmful to Buddhism.

The letter notes that the Deputy Minister has taken steps to cancel the program following complaints from various parties, citing strong displeasure expressed by the local Buddhist community.

News

Applications open for A/L Vocational stream

Published

10 hours ago

May 17, 2025

editor

The Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education has announced that applications are now open for admissions for Grade 12 students for the Advanced Level (A/L) Vocational stream subjects.

According to the Ministry, the vocational stream will be offered in 608 schools starting this year.

The Ministry further clarified that students who have not passed the GCE Ordinary Level (O/L) examination will still be eligible to apply, as O/L results will not be a determining factor for admission to this stream.

For this, students need to submit an application to the principal of the school they wish to enroll in.