President Anura Kumara Dissanayake says the government aims to reduce recurrent expenditure and significantly increase investment in development, stressing that public funds should be used to drive the country’s progress rather than sustain government operations.
Speaking at the Galle District Special Coordination Committee Meeting held today (28) at the Galle District Secretariat, the President said the government’s economic plans for the coming year are focused on reducing recurrent expenditure, which currently stands at 9%, while increasing capital expenditure, currently at 4%, to accelerate development.
He revealed that the government plans to allocate Rs. 2 trillion for capital expenditure in 2027, representing an increase of around 40%.
Emphasising prudent financial management, President Dissanayake said every rupee received by the Treasury must be utilised efficiently for national development. He added that the objective is to build a financially disciplined country where future generations are not burdened by debt repayments.
According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), the President also noted that Sri Lanka has made encouraging progress in international assessments relating to economic performance and social indicators, while gaining recognition for improvements in economic stability and efforts to reduce corruption.
The President said the upcoming Budget will prioritise improving the efficiency of the public sector through digitalisation, enabling citizens to access government services remotely. He also said the government is considering extending the retirement age in selected sectors to retain experienced and skilled professionals in the public service.
During the meeting, officials reviewed the progress of the Galle District Development Plan and projects implemented under the 2026 Budget, while discussing the district’s funding requirements for 2027.
The discussions also covered rural road development, poverty alleviation, housing, sports, water supply, waste management and the Galle City Development Plan.
Officials informed the meeting that 122 rural road projects had been approved with an allocation of Rs. 250 million, of which 57 projects have already been completed.
The progress of the “Ratama Ekata” national anti-drug programme was also reviewed. Officials said 12,608 raids have been carried out in the Galle District since the operation began, leading to the seizure of 119.6 kilograms of illicit drugs.
President Dissanayake instructed all relevant institutions to work in a coordinated manner to address development challenges and implement projects under a unified national development plan.
The meeting was attended by government ministers, Members of Parliament, provincial and local government representatives, senior public officials and heads of security institutions.
