Sri Lanka has announced that defence spending by the country will rise by more than 25% for 2013, despite more than three years having passed after the proclaimed end of armed hostilities.
No reason has been presented as to why the defence budget has increased by such a large amount, but according to AFP, part of the reason may be to repay arms bought during the war.
Figures show that spending for the Ministry of Defence will now increase to 289.5 billion rupees ($2.2 billion) from an estimated 231 billion rupees for this year.
Overall the spending for the government has also seen an increase, by 13.5% from 2.22 trillion rupees to 2.52 trillion rupees.
The full budget is set to be unveiled by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on the 8th of November.
See our earlier post:
Army boasts of increased militarisation (17 May 2012)
Also see:
Sri Lanka wants to increase defence budget again (30 September 2012)
Sri Lankan Minister’s call to arms (14 Aug 2012)
No reason has been presented as to why the defence budget has increased by such a large amount, but according to AFP, part of the reason may be to repay arms bought during the war.
Figures show that spending for the Ministry of Defence will now increase to 289.5 billion rupees ($2.2 billion) from an estimated 231 billion rupees for this year.
Overall the spending for the government has also seen an increase, by 13.5% from 2.22 trillion rupees to 2.52 trillion rupees.
The full budget is set to be unveiled by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on the 8th of November.
See our earlier post:
Army boasts of increased militarisation (17 May 2012)
Also see:
Sri Lanka wants to increase defence budget again (30 September 2012)
Sri Lankan Minister’s call to arms (14 Aug 2012)
Highest ever defence budget passed (19 Dec 2011)
2012 budget fosters militarisation (21 Nov 2011)