Cabinet ministry secretaries have submitted 33 recommendations to the Government in a bid to help resolve the current economic crisis.
The proposals have been handed over to Presidential Secretary Gamini Senarath with a request they be implemented.
The recommendations were handed over during a discussion held with the Ministry Secretaries on overcoming the current economic crisis and are to be studied by a committee headed by the Prime Minister’s secretary.
The proposals include a cut down on the number of ministers, reducing their perks, drastically curbing the number of state ministers or scrapping the positions, and temporarily stopping recruitment to the public sector.
According to the Sunday Times, Public Administration Ministry Secretary J.J. Ratnasiri explained that the number of state ministries should be reduced or the post should be scrapped as at present the number of ministries and state ministries totals about 70 members.
A cut down on the ministries would help to drastically cut down expenses as it would reduce the allocation of funds to maintain the ministries, additional officials, buildings, and provide fuel allowances, he said.
A proposal has also been made to halt all new projects, stop renting-out buildings for the public sector, and review the 2022 budget proposals.
The secretaries have suggested that public sector recruitment should be temporarily halted and a survey should be carried out about the existing staff before taking a decision to recruit.
The proposals also urge to prioritize the importing of fuel, gas, and medicines, while they also recommend that talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) should be expedited. (NewsWire)
