Error in calculating expenses for food to members: Speaker

There has been an error in calculating the amount spent for lunch per MP, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene told Parliament today.

Speaker came up with this disclosure when some MPs raised objections on the wrong impression created among the public on the amount spent to provide food for the MPs.

" The expenditure incurred for supplying food per MP has been computed by taking into consideration the entire amount spent for food including the amount spent to provide food for the staff" the speaker said.

Speaker said he would issue a media release on the issue soon.

The matter was raised by both government and opposition MPs during today's sessions. SJB MP S. M. Marikar said the media reports created a wrong picture of the issue. Government MP Anura Priyadharshana Yapa said action should be taken against the officer attached to Parliament who revealed that Rs 3000 is being spent per MP for the supply of lunch. (Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana)