President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced that, despite current financial constraints, the 2026 budget has been allocated based on national priorities, stressing that Ministry Secretaries and public officials must ensure these funds are used with maximum efficiency for the people’s benefit.

President Dissanayake noted that although significant funds had been allocated for capital expenditure, many development opportunities were denied to the people because previous state machinery failed to use the resources effectively and deliver the expected progress.

He further noted that, in some instances, budget preparations were influenced by the notion of “unspent funds,” which hindered proper utilization. 

The President emphasized that, for 2026, the necessary groundwork has been established to ensure that all required funds are made available and utilized fully without delay. 

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake made these remarks during a discussion with Ministry Secretaries held at the Presidential Secretariat today (05 Jan). 

During the discussion, the President further explained that, under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the government can allocate only about 13% of national production for expenditure, of which at least 4% should be reserved for capital expenditure. 

The President emphasized that the funds allocated to each Ministry are based on the principle of “emphasis on national priorities.” 

The President highlighted that the government is the country’s largest investor, highlighting that Rs. 1400 billion has been allocated for capital expenditure, with an additional Rs. 500 billion set aside for reconstruction work to repair damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

President Dissanayake stressed that the primary responsibility of Ministry Secretaries is to manage the allocated funds efficiently to achieve the expected physical development, and that failure to implement proposed projects would deprive the people of the benefits they are entitled to. 

During the discussion, the allocation and planned utilization of projects and funds by each Ministry for the year 2026 were also presented in detail. 

Secretary to the President, Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, along with all Ministry Secretaries and Senior Officials from the Ministry of Finance, also participated in the meeting. (Newswire)

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A new ‘Scorecard’ system is to be introduced by the President’s Office to monitor the performance of Ministry and State Ministry Secretaries, it was reported.

According to the Sunday Times, the new system will be introduced with the objective of reviewing the progress of their performance and making changes on a quarterly basis.

The review programme will focus on the secretaries’ performance with regard to the implementation of programmes, coordination with ministries and state institutions, capacity of coordinating with the respective minister and other ministries, achieving progress of the tasks entrusted to them for the benefit of the public, and areas where secretaries had failed to perform, among other criteria.

Citing a senior official of the President’s office, the report said the failure to perform would be taken into consideration in evaluating the secretaries’ performance and allocating points before taking any decision regarding transfers.

As per the scorecard system, Secretaries are required to obtain a score above 65 for their performances and those with high scores would be retained in the same ministry.

However, those receiving between 50 and 65 would be considered for transfer, while action will be taken against those who receive below 50 marks with them either losing the position of Ministry Secretary or those on a contract basis having their contract ended.

Furthermore, the points system will be taken into consideration when selecting officials to serve as Secretaries to Ministries and a quarterly report would be sent to President Ranil Wickremesinghe for follow-up action on the officials.

It is reported that the President’s office has already started monitoring the performance of ministry and state ministry secretaries. (NewsWire)

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