- Committee appointed to oversee reforms
- Reforms to cut vehicles, pensions, housing allowances for MPs
- Proposal to go to Cabinet on Monday
- Laws to be submitted to next Parliament
The Government led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is set to reduce the benefits provided to Members of Parliament (MPs).
High-level Government sources confirmed to The Sunday Morning that a committee had been appointed to oversee these changes, headed by a retired Sri Lanka Administrative Service (SLAS) officer.
The proposed reforms aim to eliminate several perks currently enjoyed by MPs, including the provision of vehicles, pensions, housing allowances, and other financial benefits.
Sources within the Government indicated that the committee would conduct a thorough review of existing benefits and formulate new laws and present it at the next parliamentary session.
Dissanayake’s administration has been under pressure to implement reforms that address public concerns about governmental expenditure, particularly in light of the ongoing economic crisis.
Attempts to reduce MPs’ benefits were confirmed by President’s Media Division (PMD) Director General Dr. Najith Indika.
He told The Sunday Morning that a proposal regarding this matter would be submitted to the Cabinet tomorrow (30).
According to Parliament, MPs in Sri Lanka receive a range of allowances and benefits, including a sitting allowance of Rs. 2,500 for attending parliamentary meetings and Rs. 2,500 for committee meetings held on non-sitting days.
They are also entitled to an office allowance of Rs. 100,000 per month, a monthly salary of Rs. 54,285, and an entertainment allowance of Rs. 1,000.
MPs may claim a driver’s allowance of Rs. 3,500 if they do not have a State driver, while fuel allowances are provided based on the distance to their electoral district.
Additionally, a monthly telephone allowance of Rs. 50,000 is granted and Rs. 10,000 is allocated for transport expenses for four personal staff members.
MPs also benefit from Rs. 350,000 worth of stamps issued annually for free postage.
However, there are no payments for monitoring member allowance, subsistence allowance, housing allowance, train passes, or newspaper allowance.
According to Government statistics, in 2017, the total expenditure for Parliament amounted to Rs. 2,841 million. Of this, 60% (Rs. 1,711 million) had been allocated for services related to the establishment of Parliament, including Rs. 875 million for salaries and allowances for 844 employees under personal emolument, Rs. 395 million for refurbishing the Parliamentary Complex and infrastructure development, Rs. 124 million for diets and uniforms, Rs. 88 million for electricity and water, and Rs. 87 million for maintenance.
Additionally, 33% of the total expenditure (Rs. 926 million) had been dedicated to MPs, covering costs such as rent (Rs. 269 million), retirement benefits for former parliamentarians (Rs. 196 million), postal and communication expenses (Rs. 135 million), allowances under personal emolument (Rs. 118 million), and fuel (Rs. 117 million).
Finally, 7% of the total (Rs. 203 million) had been spent on the Office of the Speaker, with Rs. 71 million allocated for personal emoluments.