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By Sandun Jayawardana 

It was no secret that MPs from the former government who had their houses and property destroyed or damaged in the unrest that erupted during the ‘Aragalaya’ period in 2022 were compensated by the State. Yet until Chief Government Whip and Minister Nalinda Jayatissa rose in Parliament on Thursday, the country had no idea just how much taxpayer funds had been spent to compensate these MPs.  

According to the revelations made by Minister Jayatissa, 43 ministers and MPs of the former government had collectively been paid Rs. 1.224 billion as compensation from taxpayer funds for destruction and damages sustained to their houses and other properties. The shocking revelations exposed that a majority of ministers and MPs had been awarded compensation ranging from Rs. 10 million to Rs. 95 million.

Minister Jayatissa noted there were media reports back when damage assessments were being conducted alleging that some politicians had brought pressure on district and divisional secretaries to calculate higher damage estimates for their properties.

“Even in the event of a natural disaster, the maximum amount that can be awarded for properties classified as fully damaged is Rs. 2.5 million. Even that is rarely awarded,” the minister further observed.

According to figures revealed by the minister, seven MPs had been awarded compensation between Rs. 10-20 million while 12 obtained compensation amounting to between Rs. 20-50 million. A total of 11 MPs were awarded compensation of more than Rs. 50 million.

“If a farmer suffers crop damage or someone’s house is damaged due to flooding, how difficult is it to obtain compensation from the divisional or district secretariat?” the minister said, reiterating allegations that some former MPs had abused their power to force officials to award them massive amounts of compensation using public funds.

The perks and privileges enjoyed by MPs again came into focus on Friday (7) when six Private Members’ Bills were moved in the House by opposition MPs. These were: (I) Acquisition of estate roads to the Government (Moved by Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Hesha Withanage); (II) Preparation of a procurement programme to purchase goods for cooperatives (Moved by SJB MP Kins Nelson; (III) Making arrangements to maintain a rice reserve with the government (Moved by SJB MP Rohana Bandara); (IV) Formulation of a methodology for the appointment of Labour Welfare Officers (Moved by SJB MP Chaminda Wijesiri); (V) Abolishing the Pension Scheme of the Members of Parliament (Moved by New Democratic Front (NDF) Ravi Karunanayake); (VI) Appointing a Select Committee of Parliament to investigate and make appropriate recommendations regarding the cremation, instead of burial, of the bodies of COVID-19 pandemic victims (Moved by SJB MP Rauff Hakeem).  

Moving the motion to abolish the pension scheme for MPs, Mr Karunanayake said that the pensions granted to MPs are seen by many “as an undue privilege for those who have served in Parliament, often for brief periods.” He added it was “time to align the benefits of our elected representatives with those of citizens they serve.” Mr Karunanayake added that funds for such pensions could be better spent on essential services such as healthcare, education and infrastructure, which directly benefit the people.

While abolishing the pension scheme for MPs, Mr Karunanayake called on the government to look at increasing the salaries of MPs in order to attract the best and brightest among professionals to serve as people’s representatives. He pointed to the examples of Singapore, India, Malaysia, Thailand and Australia. “Let’s invest in the professionalism of this Parliament,” he stressed.

NPP National List MP Gamini Rathnayake meanwhile claimed that over Rs. 20.35 million in public funds was being spent each month on the pensions of former MPs while over Rs. 10 million was being spent on the spouses of deceased former MPs. He claimed that all 159 NPP MPs were in agreement with the proposal to abolish the pension scheme for MPs.

SJB MP Kurunegala District MP Dayasiri Jayasekara though, accused the NPP of hypocrisy, pointing out that the legislation is not retrospective and that 39 government MPs who had served previously in Parliament would thus still be receiving a pension. He also criticised the NPP’s practice of requiring its MPs to deposit their salaries in a single bank account maintained by the party, saying it amounted to a bribe and a violation of the Code of Conduct of MPs.

Mr Jayasekara also accused the NPP of insulting the position of a ‘Parliamentarian.’ The people opposed misusing the position of a Parliamentarian, said Mr Jayasekara, adding that this does not mean that MPs should be stripped of all privileges. “My personal view is that MPs must still have certain privileges. You may attack me all you want for that but I sacrificed my position in the legal profession for 16 years to serve as an MP,” he stressed.

While welcoming Mr Karunanayake’s motion, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya said some MPs from the opposition who spoke had not been able to do justice to the constructive proposal he had made. “By speaking of matters that have nothing to do with this motion, opposition MPs are again demonstrating that they do not possess the capability to change this political culture,” she insisted. Nevertheless, she pledged that every government MP would support the motion.

Parliament will reconvene on February 17, when President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in his capacity as Minister of Finance, will present Budget 2025 to the House.