Sri Lanka It's Happening

July 23, 2004

While half the country starves, members of parliament are entitled to have their meals for pennies. Breakfast is said to cost US$ 0.06 (Rs 6.00) while lunch is said to be US$ 0.15 (Rs 15.00). The meals in the MPs' canteen is said to be the equivalent of a five star hotel in colombo and as such should be priced at least $6.00 or (more than Rs 600)

These meals have drawn a lot of flak from the media and finally there is a proposal top 'rationalize' the cost of meals in parliament. It is doubtfull if they would ever be increased to match the 'market prices'. It will most likely be a a nominal increase to diffuse some of the bitter criticisms leveled at MPs.

Even then the UPFA has again shown that their speciality is in hoodwinking the masses. They propose to provide a special meal allowance to MPs if the price of meals are raised.