by Saman Indrajith

Party leaders have decided to grant increased allowances to MPs following representations made by several Tamil party leaders.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has told the party leaders that the plan to grant increased allowances for MPs could be approved if party leaders backed the move.

TNA Parliamentarian M. A. Sumanthiran said at the meeting that it was unreasonable to have withdrawn the proposal for enhancing allowances and facilities for MPs, especially for those who were elected from districts far away from Colombo and they had found it very difficult to attend parliamentary sittings and committee meetings in Parliament due to high expenses involved in travelling and living in Colombo.

Leader of the House and University Education and Highways Minister Lakshman Kiriella, Mano Ganesan and Douglas Devananda spoke in support of MP Sumanthiran’s view, according to sources.

MEP leader Dinesh Gunawardena stated that the proposals had been withdrawn following a public outcry against it as the proposals had come close on the heels of additional burden placed on taxpayers, sources said. MP Gunawardena pointed out that the public opinion, at present, was not favourable to an increase in perks for the MPs and some expenditure could be reduced if the number of security personnel accompanying the MPs could be reduced.

Minister Ajith Perera proposed that a method to reimburse the MPs’ actual expenses incurred by them should be considered as an alternative proposal as in the UK.

The Speaker then told the party leaders’ meeting that it was important to reach a unanimous decision on the matter and proposals could be considered again later.

None of the members of the JVP was present at the meeting at the parliament complex on Tuesday, sources said.

The original proposal sought to pay each MP Rs 75,000 each for maintain offices in their constituencies. All members were to receive a monthly allowance of Rs 50,000 each for telephone, internet and overseas calls. It was also proposed to pay Rs. 50,000 each as a housing allowance to the MPs who are not resident at the Madiwela MPs housing complex. These allowances will be in addition to the ones currently being paid to the members, according to sources, who also pointed out that there was a proposal to continue to provide MPs with stationery free of charge.

The MPs who attended the meetings of the newly established Sectoral Oversight Committees of Parliament on non-sitting days would be paid Rs. 4,000 each per sitting and chairmen Rs. 5,000 each per sitting, sources said.

It was also proposed to pay each MP an allowance of Rs. 2,500 for attending a meeting of the Constitutional Assembly.

Courtesy:The Island