11 December 2023 12:19 am Views - 35
By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana
Going by the comment made by The then Minister Dinesh Gunawardene on April 23, 2021 that Rs 100,000 is spend for every minute of Parliament session, millions of rupees are set go waste because of the abrupt end of sessions yesterday. The sessions lasted for only around two and half hours as it was adjourned around 12 pm yesterday as there was no quorum.
There were only 18 members present at the time the House was adjourned.
Around 207 MPs were absent yesterday at the time the sessions ended and one wonder whether they are eligible for the Rs 2500 sitting allowance which are usually paid for every MPs for participating in the sittings.
However Leader of Opposition who was responding to the allegation that time and money was wasted yesterday, said it was not a waste at all. “Some say that time and money went wasted as the sessions were adjourned without a quorum. However it was not a waste at all as we managed to achieve a victory for the people. The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) together with others in the opposition had managed to relieve the people of an additional tax burden at least temporarily, “ Mr. Premadasa told journalists.
“ VAT was going to be imposed on burials and cremations, “ he added.