Ravi K proposes Speaker to use official residence

Colombo, May 5 (Daily Mirror) - Opposition MP Dayasiri Jayasekara alleged that Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne is using the Speaker's official residence and another apartment in the apartment complex belonging to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, despite claims of not using any residences.

MP Jayasekara, in an oral question, asked if the Speaker is using the official residence allocated to the Speaker and whether an apartment in the apartment complex belonging to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government has been allocated to the Speaker. 

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya said the Speaker is using the official residence assigned to the Speaker for official duties and that an apartment in the apartment complex belonging to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government has been allocated for his personal use.

When MP Jayasekara questioned whether an apartment from the same apartment complex has been allocated to the Speaker's private Secretary, Chief Government Whip Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said that no such residence has been allocated to the Speaker's staff.

After a heated conversation between government and opposition MPs regarding the issue, opposition MP Ravi Karunanayake said it is better for the Speaker to use Speaker's Official residence close to Parliament.

"The best solution to the issue is for you to use the Speaker's Official residence close to Parliament," Karunanayake said.