JO condemns MP allowance hike

Joint Opposition MP Bandula Gunawardena addressing the media yesterday in Colombo, flanked by Joint Opposition MP Sisira Jayakody - Pic by Ruwan Walpola

By Chamodi Gunawardana

The Joint Opposition yesterday criticised Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesisghe’s proposal to increase salary and the allowances of Parliamentarians. 

Speaking to media, JO MP Bandula Gunawardena claimed that the proposal did not blend with the promises which brought the ‘Yahapalanaya’ Government into power. “President Maithripala Sirisena told his followers before the presidential election that he will curtail the unnecessary expenses of the previous Government and will conduct a low-cost Government. We think Prime Minister Wickremesinghe has forgotten the promises made by his common candidate during the election,” said MP Gunawardana.

Gunawardena also alleged that this proposal clearly exhibits how the promises of the current Government don’t reflect in their actions.

“This Government has already proven that they couldn’t put in practice the mandate given to them by the people,” he said.  Two weeks ago Wickremesinghe proposed a salary increment and additional allowances for all MPs in the Parliament, stating that Parliamentarians must be paid a good salary in order to carry out their responsibilities. Wickremesinghe recommended an increase in the daily attendance allowances from Rs. 500 to Rs. 2500 and another monthly allowance of Rs. 100,000 to be allocated for work to be done in the electorate.  Gunawardena further said that all members of the Joint Opposition will oppose any Government decision to increase allowances for MPs, but he did not specify if the Joint Opposition MPs are going to refuse allowances if passed in Parliament.

Commenting about the Budget 2017, Gunawardena said that the Joint Opposition has raised questions over every single proposal of the budget.  “We expect to be actively involved in the formulation of State finance policies from next January. The Government will not be able to implement whatever they want as the economic policy in the country. We will get involved to ensure the policies focus on the welfare of the public.”