Newly appointed MPs have objected to a statement made by a Parliament official claiming that Parliamentarians were being supplied lunch costing Rs 3000 per person for per day at a nominal price of Rs 200.
The statement caused a heated debate during the workshop held for new Parliamentarians at the Parliamentary complex yesterday (26).
New Parliamentarians participating in the event raised objections to the statement delivered by Chief Executive of Parliament W.A.S. Upananda on the financial benefits granted for Parliamentarians.
Upananda had revealed that the actual cost of lunch served for Parliamentarians at the Parliament is Rs. 3000 per person per day but is provided at a nominal cost of Rs.200.
However, some MPs had objected to the statement leading to a tense situation.
The following conversation is reported to have taken place during the discussion on the statement, according Aruna Sinhala newspaper.
State Minister Seetha Arambepola:
Does this meal cost Rs.3000 per person? We have been consuming this lunch over the last 2 days.
Other MPs
its embarrassing for MPs to consume a meal valued at Rs. 3,000 at Rs. 200.
Colombo District MP Attorney-at-law Premanath Sri Dolowatte:
This meal does not represent one that costs Rs.3000. We can rather bring food from home. None of us want meals supplied by the Parliament.
State Minister Seetha Arambepola:
On the first day I was wondering if we had received food from a wrong place. I searched around for the Rs.3000 buffet. The public tend to hate MPs due to such wrong information.
Additional Secretary Tikiri Jayathileke:
There are some from among the 225 MPS who have not consumed even one meal from parliament.
Deputy Secretary:
We just received a notice from the Audit Department. It says a fish meal will cost Rs.951 and a vegetarian meal will cost Rs.629.
Chief Executive of Parliament W.A.S. Upananda
I wish to apologise for the statement I made with regard to the Parliament meals. (Newswire)