MPs have to stay in queues to obtain fuel: Opposition MP

17 March 2026 10:09 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 25 Bookmark

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Colombo, March 17 (Daily Mirror) - Members of Parliament also stay in the queues to purchase fuel just like the general public as there is no special treatment for them, Opposition MP S.M. Marikkar said.

Responding to a question raised by journalists, the MP said they are not getting fuel from the security forces or from any other source.

"We also stay in the queues to purchase fuel. Some media personnel have developed a grudge against us. They try to show that they work on a voluntary basis. However, they want their salaries paid on the 25th of each month. Also, they want increments every year," the MP said.

Comments - 25

Nimal Tuesday, 17 March 2026 10:17 AM

Why not. The number of your guys should be cut in half. What exactly are you doing other than wasting public money?

0 12

Kandaih Balendran Tuesday, 17 March 2026 01:18 PM

Reduce the number of leeches to 100.

0 3

Tharindu Tuesday, 17 March 2026 10:20 AM

You mean your driver?

0 11

Voter Tuesday, 17 March 2026 10:36 AM

If not for us you wouldn’t have been in parliament so if voters can wait in queues why can’t parliamentarians including ministers?…you aren’t super human….

0 13

Ram P Tuesday, 17 March 2026 10:48 AM

Yes MP Marikkar, all must go in the queue. Positions are not favoured. Now you will realise how much the people suffer waiting in the queues. 99% of the MPs are not used to the queues. They send their drivers/servants/catchers

0 12

WELL SAID Tuesday, 17 March 2026 12:26 PM

CORRECT RAM, YOU FOR GOT TO MAKE IT MORE CLEARER REPLACE CATCHER WITH STOOGES!!,

0 1

Wimal Jayasinghe Tuesday, 17 March 2026 10:53 AM

Yes they have privileges inside parliament only. Outside parliament they are citizens like others. Why shouldn’t they stay in the queue.

0 12

Nihal Dharmatileke Tuesday, 17 March 2026 10:55 AM

So get the taste of less privileged people. We have elected MP also to bare our sufferings , these are the rules of the game take it or quit.

0 10

Goat Tuesday, 17 March 2026 10:58 AM

WHAT IS DIFFERENT WITH YOU AND CITIZEN YOU NOT BORN FROM. ALI P.

0 7

Dr Priyanee Wijesekera Tuesday, 17 March 2026 11:02 AM

You should wait in queues and help your voters get fuel by looking after their vehicles when unattended. Do something for the country shedding your parasitic attitude and behaviour.

0 9

jo Tuesday, 17 March 2026 11:04 AM

You people doing nothing rather than critising the govenment. Better work from home.

0 8

PUBLIC TRANSPORT IS YOUR NEXT OPTION. Tuesday, 17 March 2026 12:40 PM

NO WORKING FROM HOME, THEY COULD USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT, LIKE THE MAJORITY OF US. WE ALL KNOW HOW SOME GOVT OFFICIALS HAVE FOR DECADES HAD A FIELD DAY WITH THEIR GOVT PREVILEDGES, SO DO NOT TAKE THE MAJORITY FOR FOOLS ANY LONGER, THE WOOL OVER THEIR EYES AND WAX FROM THEIR EARS HAS BEEN REMOVED.

0 0

Izzett Yusuf Tuesday, 17 March 2026 11:08 AM

Yes. They're NOT special. They too should feel the same as public.

1 10

Chin Dave Tuesday, 17 March 2026 11:14 AM

Yes you need to be in the queue as other members of the public do. Politicians don’t need to have any special privileges other than the normal citizen. It has been the wrong impression we had in Sri Lanka for a long time that politicians are above the law and above ordinary citizens which is not seen in any other decent country.

0 8

Lion Tuesday, 17 March 2026 11:23 AM

Very good, you should not be treated as a special class citizen with Privileges. Well done NPP for showing ,where they stand among the people . Even he comes to parliament he won’t contribute anything worthwhile to the country or the society other than lying with loud voice.

0 6

The majority are pleased with the NNP's Govts ruling and decisions. people voted them in for a CHANGE and a CHANGE the people are getting. Tuesday, 17 March 2026 12:36 PM

Opposition including all other opposition MP'S must be thankful none of them have died while standing in queues, like some other citizens have had to lose their lives while standing in queues be it for fuel or food!!. It is time these disgruntled MP'S fast backwards their memory and realize they are lucky to only have to stand in a queue. if KARMA decides to drop a few while standing in queues " so be it". NONE of you need to stand in queues as you have drivers to go pump the fuel, period. Why stand in a queue only to try and bring the NPP Govt into disrepute!!!. People get into GOVT to serve the Country and all its People, not themselves and the sooner you lot realize why each one of you were elected, chapter of standing in queues will not be an issue.

0 2

Kandy man Tuesday, 17 March 2026 11:26 AM

Keep him in the queue for hours without allowing him to pump dam lies to the society ,wasting the time of the parliament

0 7

Kandy man Tuesday, 17 March 2026 11:26 AM

Keep him in the queue for hours without allowing him to pump dam lies to the society ,wasting the time of the parliament

0 5

Nihal s Tuesday, 17 March 2026 11:26 AM

Yes no difference to the public. Those days you were treated as VIPs are disappearing.

0 9

THE GOOD OLE DAYS ARE IN THE PAST, FOLLOW THE NEW POLITIES AND PROCEDURES OR VACATE YOUR POST AND LET YOUR VOTERS ELLECT A NEW MEMBER. Tuesday, 17 March 2026 12:44 PM

WELL SAID, WE ARE ALL ONE PEOPLE, IF YOU DO NOT LIKE THE PRESENT GOVTS DECISIONS AND OR CHANGES, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO RESIGN AND GO TAKE A FULL TIME JOB AND BE COMPELLED TO STICK TO THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES OF YOUR EMPLOYEE.

0 1

Mohan Tuesday, 17 March 2026 11:53 AM

Not just a handful of media personalities—the entire nation holds a grudge against people like you. If you could betray your own leader and sneak off to RW while he was President, begging for a luxury vehicle permit, what loyalty can the people ever expect from you? The only reason you’re still around is because SP is too weak, too indecisive and scared to kick you out.

0 1

Ponnusamy Ravindran Tuesday, 17 March 2026 12:34 PM

This proves we have a government with integrity. MPs are a burden to to people.. Also they have no power outside the parliament according to the Law. So for the time being only attend parliament and express your remorse of not in poser

0 3

check Tuesday, 17 March 2026 12:58 PM

Do you think we are jobless ?

0 3

Spartacus Wednesday, 18 March 2026 03:54 AM

If you want to work for society, people and understand hardship and find solutions to them, then like all majority you should join the queues for petrol, go and buy your groceries in the shop and feel escalation in prices, walk on the road and count how many times you are stopped by beggers, drive yourself and feel the abuse driving of bus drivers and three wheel drivers, visit a govt department and find out why you cannot get something done in 30m or within a few hours or it takes days and weeks, go to registrar of motor vehicles and learn to pay a bribe and watch how things work out smoothly, ask your old mother to go and look for gas so that you and your wife and kids can go to work and school without interruption. These are all samples of normal life a citizen faces.

0 0

Abdul Careem Wednesday, 18 March 2026 05:46 AM

It's true when essential/fuel n food product put to queues - little discomfort especially to the legislators. This a democratic society , their has to be a remedy to over come this issue by the Government for proposition n opposition equally in any proporation

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