February 02, 2023, Colombo: With 2022 bringing on an economic disaster for Sri Lankan citizens, one would expect the Treasury to reduce its budget allocations for 2023 in almost all areas where it can.
However, according to figures released by the Treasury exposing the budget allocations for 2023, little has been reduced from last year, and in some instances, the allocations have only increased since 2022.
One such area is the facilities offered to former Presidents. According to official figures, millions continue to be allocated for the past heads of state in 2023, with a bulk going towards maintaining their state homes and vehicles.
Currently, the state has to allocate four past Presidents, namely Chandrika Kumaratunga, Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena and Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Hema Premadasa, the wife of the late Ranasinghe Premadasa, also gets a budget allocation under this category.
