22 August 2023 01:02 pm
Claiming that salaries of Parliamentarians have not been increased for 20 years, State Minister Shantha Bandara today raised concerns that the media had falsely reported that all 225 MPs have requested the import of duty-free vehicles.
The Minister told Parliament that the media had reported that the MPs had requested to import duty-free vehicles and refuted the reports saying that it was false and said those responsible for spreading such reports should be brought before the Committee of Privileges.
He said no MP would make such a request when the country was facing an acute economic crisis and farmers were facing serious issues due to the prevailing dry spell.
The Minister said the MPs had been given the privilege of importing a duty-free vehicle from the time of late Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike and added that considering the current situation of the country, no MP had made such a request.
He said salaries of MPs have not been increased for 20 years and they were managing the situation with great difficulty.
State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe said the Finance Ministry had not received any requests from the MPs to import duty free vehicles. (Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera)