|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Friday, 10 September 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Politics | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
| MPs' meals at market prices by Manjula Fernando and Nadira Gunatilleke A proposal will be brought before Parliament soon seeking approval to provide Parliamentary meals for MPs at market prices. "At present meals for MPs in Parliament are provided at a concessionary rate. This is a proposal by the Government MPs group," Cabinet spokesman Minister Mangala Samaraweera said yesterday. Addressing the weekly Cabinet press briefing at the Government Information Department, Minister Samaraweera rejected reports of salary increases to MPs. "There was not even a discussion about increasing salaries of Government Ministers. Certain media violate all media ethics and publish false reports with political motivations." It was a UNP MP who demanded a higher salary for MPs during the previous Party Leaders meeting held in connection with introducing a Bill to abolish judges' salary anomalies. The UPFA Government knows people's hardships well because it was brought to power by the people themselves. "Therefore we will never do such a thing," he added. Minister Samaraweera said due to the good financial management of the Government, the burden of high world fuel prices was not passed on to the people. Development (electricity, water supply schemes, telephone facilities, etc..) will be brought to villages through the 'Development Drive' to be launched on October 12 under the guidance of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. There was a standstill during the past two years, he said. The salaries of public servants will be increased in the next budget to be presented in Parliament on November 12. The Government will offer a salary increase which will be satisfactory to public servants. Replying a question by a journalist about the present state of the peace process, the Minister said there is no recent developments in the peace process but they hope to commence peace talks shortly. The Minister said that Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe met President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga yesterday. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
