The Deputy Chief Secretary (Finance) of the Northern Province, Mr. R. Sivaruban, stated that the Northern Provincial Council has secured the top position compared to other provinces in Sri Lanka by efficiently utilizing over 98% of the funds allocated to the Northern Province through the 2025 Budget.
A special event to commence duties for the year 2026, chaired by Northern Province Governor Hon. N. Vethanayahan and attended by the Provincial Chief Secretary, Secretaries of Ministries, Deputy Chief Secretaries, Provincial Directors, Commissioners, and Heads of Departments, was held this morning on Thursday (01.01.2026) at the Governor’s Secretariat.
Addressing the gathering and extending New Year greetings to all, the Governor expressed his gratitude and appreciation to all officials who dedicatedly cooperated to achieve an outstanding position in the province’s financial progress during 2025.
Continuing his speech, the Governor said: In the past, 4 billion rupees was allocated for our province in 2024 and 8 billion rupees in 2025, while this time, approximately 10 billion rupees have been allocated for 2026. The Finance Commission has also granted approval to implement our projects starting from January itself.
We have the opportunity to request additional funds for projects that cannot be implemented with the allocated funds from the central government’s line ministries. In particular, His Excellency the President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed that funds from line ministries be allocated to provincial councils. Therefore, I firmly believe that this year we will be able to carry out more development projects than before.
Certain areas in our province continuously face flood impacts. We cannot simply watch as those people are affected every time. Therefore, special attention must be paid this year to completely eliminating or reducing future flood impacts in those identified areas.
It is easy to say, but difficult to implement. Even if we formulate policies here, it is you who implement them in the field. The experience you gain during those activities will pave the way for future success.
It is only through the collective efforts of everyone, from the Chief Secretary to field officials, that we have this time achieved an outstanding national-level accomplishment in fund utilization. However, we must not only look at financial statistics but also definitely examine what changes these projects have brought to the quality of life of the people, the Governor said.
Deputy Chief Secretary (Finance) Mr. R. Sivaruban stated: We have received 100% of the imprest allocated to the Northern Province from the Treasury. As of midnight on the 30th, we have spent more than 98% of the funds. In terms of physical progress, we have achieved 100% of the target. Through this achievement, we are leading among the other provinces in Sri Lanka. To sustain this victory, it would be best to start procurement-related work for the 2026 action plans right from the beginning.
Chief Secretary Mrs. Thanuja Murugeson, in her remarks, said: This time, the Northern Province has achieved the excellent financial management status of a ‘zero budget’. Thanks to everyone who contributed to reaching this level. We will carry forward our future activities in accordance with the new guidelines issued by the Finance Commission regarding the 2026 plans.
Many senior officials of the province participated in this event.
