New MPs irked by claims their subsidised lunch served at Rs. 200 in P’ment would in fact cost Rs. 3,000

• Parliament official claims MPs lunch would cost Rs. 3,000 if not subsidised
• Claim angers several new MPs who challenge it and say they would rather bring food from home  
• Officials later revise cost to make it Rs. 950 for fish lunch and Rs. 629 for vegetarian meal

A storm is brewing over the cost and quality of the food served to Members of Parliament (MPs) after a few of the newly-elected MPs took objection to claims by parliamentary officials that the lunch they were served at the subsidised cost of Rs. 200 actually cost Rs. 3,000.

State Minister Dr. Seetha Arambepola

Several of the new MPs who attended an orientation program earlier this week argued with officials saying that the quality of the food they were served during their first week in Parliament was poor and challenged the claims of the food costing Rs. 3,000.

The issue was raised by Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SBJ) Colombo District MP S.M. Marikkar in Parliament yesterday in reference to reports of the meal of an MP costing Rs. 3,000, saying that this kind of claim is misleading and makes voters question MPs if they eat gold for such a price. “The fish served this morning in the parliamentary canteen were not fresh. That is the situation of food being served to the MPs here, we eat better at home, but in the meantime, there are reports that the cost of meal of an MP is Rs. 3,000. 

“Someone has to correct this situation and tell the truth. This had been stated at the orientation program for MPs at the parliamentary complex on Tuesday. The correct figures must be given. I am speaking on behalf of all 225 MPs. The impression the reports created is wrong. 

“It seems that the cost of all who are eating here is counted together to make a total sum and that is divided by 225 to arrive at the conclusion that one meal of an MP costs Rs. 3,000. The wrong figures had been given at Tuesday’s workshop. I hope the Speaker will correct this,” he said.

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said the correct cost had been given by officials during the program correcting the figure.

During the workshop on Tuesday, Director (Finance) of Parliament A.S. Upananda stated that a meal that costs Rs. 3,000 is given to an MP at a rate of Rs. 200. Upananda made that statement while speaking on the functions of food and catering and housekeeping departments of Parliament. He stated that an MP is charged Rs. 100 for breakfast, Rs. 200 for lunch and snacks and tea at Rs. 50.

Following the statement, several new MPs objected to the statement. State Minister Dr. Seetha Arambepola said she had meals at the Parliament canteen during the past couple of days and she is sure that a single meal would not cost that much, claiming the food served is not worth that much. “Do not publicise the wrong facts. These facts create wrong pictures. That is why people hate MPs,” she said.

Colombo District SLPP MP Premanath C. Dolawatte also challenged the cost stated by officials, saying he cannot accept that this meal costs Rs. 3,000. “We do not need your food. We could bring food from home,” he said. 

Later the figure of Rs. 3,000 was corrected with Deputy Secretary General Neil Iddawela stating that he had received correct figures from the Audit Branch and according to that a meal with fish costs Rs. 950 while a vegetarian meal is Rs. 629 for an MP. (CK)