• Rs. 1,206 m to 19 Oppo. MPs, Kiriella likens same to ‘bribery’, Hakeem calls for disciplinary inquiries  

Protesting against the Government's alleged practice of providing decentralised funding only to selected Opposition Parliamentarians, Opposition MPs including Chief Opposition Whip and attorney Lakshman Kiriella urged the Speaker of the Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana to intervene to ensure that the relevant allocations are provided to every MP.

Speaking in the Parliament yesterday (18), Opposition MP Dayasiri Jayasekara claimed that only selected Opposition MPs have been provided with decentralised funding whereas every MP is entitled to receive such funding to carry out development activities in their Districts. "There are certain MPs who have received Rs. 100 million. I don't know why this is handled in this way. If funding is given, they should be given to all MPs. Why provide funding to only those who praise the Government? I urge the Speaker to discuss this with the President and the Finance Ministry and ensure that these funds are provided to all MPs." He also submitted a list of Opposition MPs who have recently received decentralised funding. According to the list, which was shared with The Daily Morning by Jayasekara, a total sum of Rs. 1,206 million has been released to 19 Opposition MPs, including Rs. 100 million each to Faizal Cassim, Ishak Rahuman, H.M.M. Harees and Seyed Ali Zahir Moulana, Rs. 84 million to Rishad Bathiudeen, Rs. 69 million to Dr. Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana, Rs. 62 million to Rohini Kumari Wijerathna Kavirathna, Rs. 61 million to J.C. Alawathuwala, Rs. 60 million to M. Velu Kumar, Rs. 51 million each to Gayantha Karunathilaka and Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, Rs. 50 million each to Dr. Harsha de Silva, Sujith Sanjaya Perera, Kins Nelson and H.M. Dharmasena, Rs. 49 million each to Ajith Mannapperuma and Patali Champika Ranawaka, Rs. 48 million to Dilip Wedaarachchi and Rs. 18 million to Hector Appuhami.

Adding to Jayasekara's remarks, Kiriella also raised concerns over selected MPs being provided with decentralised funding. "We didn’t have to beg for decentralised funds in the past. We definitely received them. As the Speaker (speaking to Abeywardana), you must ensure that every MP receives these funds. Providing it to selected MPs is similar to bribing. The Speaker should protect our rights."

In response to the MPs, Speaker Abeywardana said that he would inform the relevant authorities regarding the issue.

Following Jayasekara's statement, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Leader and Opposition MP Rauff Hakeem said that the provision of decentralised funding to selected MPs without informing the party leaders is not acceptable, adding that disciplinary inquiries will have to be conducted against the relevant MPs.