These two parties as well as parties in the opposition were critical of the budget presented in the previous year, and it had to be amended several times.

Also, that budget was not in line with the government’s middle-term economic policies presented by prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to parliament a few months earlier.

The SLFP is of the view that these problems had cropped up due to the PM-led UNP being entrusted with the affairs of the economy.

Its central committee has taken a decision that the party too, should be allowed to make contributions in policy-making.

It has appointed a committee headed by minister Sarath Amunugama to hold talks with the UNP, for which the latter party has appointed a committee led by minister Malik Samarawickrama.

These two committees will finalize the budget proposals, which are to be presented to parliament after being sanctioned by the president.

The president said at the recent SLFP anniversary rally as well as at the UN general assembly that economic reforms would be introduced in 2017, a year to salvage the country from poverty.