Chief Government Whip Nalinda Jayatissa says Rs. 7.5 million per month has been spent for six persons appointed under the Chief Government Whip’s Office in Parliament during the previous regime.
Addressing the Parliament yesterday, Minister Jayatissa said that the 49 months governed by the Gotabaya Rajapaksa- Ranil Wickremesinghe governments have seen over Rs. 377.3 million spent just for the Chief Government Whip’s Office.
He further said that the appointments to the former Chief Government Whip’s Office include the Chief Government Whip, two Deputy organizers and three Assistant Organizers.
“Prasanna Ranatunga held the post of Chief Government Whip. The Deputy Organizers were Sagara Kariyawasam and Jayantha Ketagoda, while the Assistant Organizers were Kokila Harshini Gunawardena, Janaka Tissa Kuttiarachchi, and Madura Vithanage,” he revealed.
Stating that a government representative refers to a Cabinet Minister who is provided with a vehicle, fuel allowance and salary from the relevant ministry, Minister Jayatissa said these Deputy and Assistant Organizers had also received similar privileges under the former regime.
“When preparing the NPP government’s budget, it was found that the Chief Government Whip was provided Rs. 16,250 as an additional allowance and 600 litres of fuel for a vehicle. The Deputy Organizers have been provided with facilities similar to that granted to a Deputy Minister, while Assistant Organizers were granted facilities similar to that of the personal staff of a Deputy Minister,” he said.
Minister Jayatissa said that while a Deputy Organizer is entitled to a team of 15 persons, the previous Deputy Organizers held teams consisting of 30 personnel each, adding that the Assistant Organizers also held a team of 30 personnel, apart from the team offered by the Parliament.
He further alleged that these roles have been granted by the former regime using Parliamentary funds to appease party members who were not given ministerial posts.
Announcing that the NPP Government has also made appointments to the Chief Government Whip’s Office, MP Jayatissa said he will operate as the Chief Government Whip, while two Deputy Organizers and one Assistant Organizer have been appointed.
He informed the Parliament that the five persons appointed to the Chief Government Whip’s Office would be working without obtaining the privileges taken by the previous appointments, such as vehicles or fuel allowances.
Minister Jayatissa further said that the expense incurred by the current Chief Government Whip’s Office was Rs. 1.8 million for January, which was significantly less than that spent under the previous regime. (Newswire)
