Minister Mahinda Amaraweera says the government paid salaries of public servants in December last year with funds obtained from the sale of urea fertiliser.
The Agriculture Ministry said the Agricultural Development Department earned Rs.10.05 billion by selling urea fertiliser and other fertiliser during the past yala season and this year’s maha season.
The money was directed to the Treasury and last December the government utilised a sum of the funds to pay salaries of state employees.
Minister Amaraweera expressed his views at a discussion held at the Ministry of Agriculture yesterday (10).
The Minister said although the government made certain financial allocations for activities of ministries through the last interim budget, the provision of allocated funds was not possible due to the economic crisis.
The Minister said although Rs.115 billion was allocated to the Ministry of Agriculture for 2023, due to the economic crisis, on the directive of the President ministries have been requested to reduce expenditure by 5 percent.
He noted that as paddy harvesting in the maha season will begin in some areas by the end of next week, the Paddy Marketing Board will require at least Rs.10 billion to purchase paddy.
The Minister said a Cabinet Paper will be submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers next week requesting approval for the necessary funds.
