Government expenditure towards treatment and prevention for the COVID-19 pandemic so far is over Rs. 138 billion and in addition to minimizing the economic impact several moratoria too were initiated by the Central Banks State Minister of Finance Ajith Nivard Cabraal said.
He said that a serious dialogue has arisen in society regarding government expenditure on behalf of the Covid-19 pandemic and to answer these he presented a detailed explanation in parliament on May 18.
“The government has spent Rs. 96.1 billion as direct COVID-19 related expenditure for 2020 and a further Rs. 41.9 billion up to May 17 on C-19 related expenses.
“A sum of Rs. 56,593 million has been spent on providing low-income earning families who suffered as a result of the Covid pandemic in the months of April and May an allowance of Rs. 5,000 and in April 2021 Rs. 14,000 million was allocated for the control of the pandemic,” the State Minister said explaining the financial provisions for the control of the COVID outbreak.
He also said that in 2020 Rs. 29,045 for quarantine arrangements, health infrastructure facilities, pharmaceuticals and supplies etc. had been spent while up to now in 2021 a sum of Rs. 17,743 million has been disbursed.
