Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2017-07-11

Rehabilitation and reconstruction of the properties damaged by the recent adverse weather conditions

- It has been estimated that a sum between Rs.50 to Rs.60 billion will be required for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the properties damaged due to floods, landslides and cyclones caused by the recent adverse weather conditions. This is approximately 0.5% of the Gross Domestic Production and it will be a challenge to further fiscal expansion in that regard. As such, the proposal made by Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, the Minister of Finance and Mass Media, to utilize the potential savings for the year 2017, and part of the supplementary support services and contingencies available within the existing budgetary provisions of 2017, for the re-building activities without any further delay, by reviewing the basis of priority on various projects for which provision has been set apart for the year 2017, was approved by the Cabinet.