The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, as noted by Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka, we met officials of the Ministry of Finance and relevant Parliamentary officials yesterday regarding the issue raised by Hon. Ravi Karunanayake and Hon. Harsha de Silva. Clarifying this now will benefit the future. There are precedents for handling Cabinet reshuffles after an Appropriation Bill is presented.

¶ 02 For example, for the 2024 financial year, the Appropriation Bill was gazetted on 27.09.2023 and presented on 05.10.2023. Subsequently, on 23.10.2023, President Ranil Wickremesinghe reshuffled the Cabinet. At that time, certain expenditure Heads (e.g., for Plantations, Environment, Agriculture, Health) were discussed and adjusted accordingly. Further, per the Opposition’s proposed Budget timetable, two Ministries scheduled for debate on the same day were later split into three, and it was agreed to debate all relevant Heads on that day. There is precedent, and no legal barrier, as the aggregate expenditure is unchanged.

¶ 03 Regarding a new Head 176 now: previously that was the Ministry of Ports and Shipping. In 2023, we also saw a new Head 501 created when an MP was appointed as a State Minister in charge of Plantations, with specified institutions gazetted under him and funded distinctly at Committee Stage. Thus, with aggregate spending unchanged, there is precedent to debate and adjust Heads to new ministries. No legal impediment arises.