Minister sees opportunity for lawmakers to repair tarnished image

Each MP to receive Rs 100 mn

By Shamindra Ferdinando

In spite of the ongoing financial crisis taking a turn for the worse, the SLPP government intends to allocate Rs 100 mn to each Member of Parliament, Rs 20 mn to each former Provincial Council member and Rs 4 mn each to Local Government members through Budget 2022.

SLPP Chairman and Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris and Aviation Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, who is also the Gampaha District SLPP leader recently, announced plans to release funds, at separate meetings.

Addressing the media, at the SLPP office, at Battaramulla, Prof. Peiris explained that Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa would allocate Rs 2 mn to each Grama Sevaka division, Rs 3 mn to each Local Government ward area, Rs 20 mn to each Deputy Chairman of a District Coordinating Committee and Rs 100 mn to each Chairman of a District Coordinating Committee.

Prof. Peiris emphasised that allocation of funds would be made notwithstanding the sharp drop in VAT collection, Customs revenue, Excise duty and sharp drop in tourism as a result of the Covid-19 epidemic. The Foreign Minister pointed out that the country earned as much as USD 4.2 billion annually from the tourism industry before Covid-19 struck. According to the former top law academic, approximately 40% of the total funding would be utilised to provide employment opportunities, 40% for infrastructure development and the remaining on environmental projects and social welfare, 10 % each.

Addressing a gathering at the auditorium of the Minuwangoda Pradeshiya Sabha, Minister Ranatunga said that the funding would give parliamentarians an opportunity to fulfill their responsibilities in a way at a time their reputation had been tarnished. Minister Ranatunga reiterated the SLPP’s commitment to their programmes of action though the Opposition continued efforts to derail the government. Minister Ranatunga compared the Opposition project directed at the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the run-up to the 2015 presidential election and the current challenge faced by the SLPP administration.

In addition to the budget funding for people’s representatives, Prof. Peiris dealt with a range of issues, including the ongoing debate on the conducting of the much delayed Provincial Council polls. Responding to media queries, Prof. Peiris stressed that Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, who had been here recently, didn’t pressure the government over PC polls. The Minister said so when the media sought an explanation why the media statements issued by the government as regards FS Shringla’s visit conveniently refrained from mentioning the PC polls and the need to implement the 13 Amendment to the Constitution whereas the comprehensive Indian High Commission statement did refer to the issues at hand among the high profile agenda.

Prof. Peiris explained that the parliamentary process undertaken by the government under the leadership of Chief Government Whip Dinesh Gunawardena to conduct PC polls by March next year. Prof. Peiris said: “Parliamentary Select Committee under the chairmanship of Education Minister Gunawardena, is meeting regularly. The PSC will decide whether to introduce legislation to bring in a new mixed system or conduct PC elections under the old system.”

Declaring his participation in the PSC process Prof. Peiris emphasised one of their priorities was reaching consensus on a common system for parliamentary, Provincial Councils and Local Government polls. Prof. Peiris expressed confidence the process could be finalised within the next two to three months. He alleged that the previous government sabotaged the PC polls by doing away with the old system without introducing a replacement.

Minister Gunawardena recently said that he received a communication from the Attorney General that PC polls couldn’t even be held under the old system unless Parliament adopted a new Act in that regard. Minister Gunawardena has also explained the situation to members of the PSC at a meeting held in Parliament on Oct 08.

Prof. Peiris said that some believed the PC polls should be held under the old system for the last time. Commenting on the challenges faced by the government, Prof. Peiris said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa wanted an appraisal of the situation, self-criticism and decide on future plans. According to him, both the Cabinet and the vast majority of people wanted a new Constitution. Therefore, a nine-member expert committee headed by Romesh de Silva, PC, had been appointed to produce a draft Constitution and that process should come to a successful conclusion before the end of this year, he said.