Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2018-01-09

Implementation of the 'Good Governance for Growth' Programme

- One of the basic principles of the concept of Good Governance is the responsibility of the Government to meet the needs of the public as opposed to any selected group of the society. In support of the Government's efforts made in regard to Good Governance, the Government of Australia has agreed to provide a grant of AUD 31 million to contribute towards the improvement in the public service delivery. Under this programme is has been planned to implement a programme for 'Good Governance for Growth' by utilizing these funds.

Under this programme, it is expected to cover the matters like enhancing economic growth and the spread of such development benefits to the society to minimize the poverty and income disparities prevalent in the country, to assist in providing effective and accountable public services and to assist in the joint research programmes in respect of economic decision making and enhancing the qualitative aspect of public services. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, the Minister of Finance and Mass Media, to implement the proposed programme within the next five (05) years and to enter into a Subsidiary Agreement with the Government of Australia.