President Maithripala Sirisena addressing a gathering in Polonnaruwa last evening said that he will not approve a salary hike for members of Parliament.
Recent media reports indicated that there have been a proposal to increase a pay hike to MPs by 215 percent.
Meanwhile commenting on the pay increment State minister, Ajith P. Perera told the Sunday Observer that all ministers and members of the parliament should oppose to a pay hike at this moment being role models to the society even though there is a proposal submitted to the Speaker seeking an increment of salaries and allowances for Ministers and MPS, According to a law passed in 2006, salaries of all MPs should be increased in parallel with the pay hikes to High court, Appeal court and Supreme Court judges. “But as the country is stuck with debts and people are suffering by the cost of living, we cannot approve this. All Ministers and MPs should oppose such decision” he commented.
Meanwhile speaking to the Sunday Observer JVP MP Sunil Handunnettitold that an increment to Ministers and MPs’ salaries and allowances cannot be approved in any stage despite the fact that who brought it forward.
“Economy of the country is shrinking due to large amounts of debts and government is increasing the taxes and vehicle prices. At such moment we cannot approve an increment to Ministers and MPs’ salaries nor allowances” he stressed.
Dullas Alahapperuma, MP of UPFA told the Sunday Observer that the government should look to uplift the living standards of the public rather than eyeing to increase salaries of the members of parliament.
“Government should take priority of increasing allowances to Samurdhi beneficiaries and raising the salaries of public and private sector employees. It is unfair giving priority to satisfying MPs” MP Alahapperuma said.