The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa – Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, thank you for the time.

¶ 02 On the Exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic: At the President’s request, and with the consent of the Most Venerable Mahanayake Theras of Asgiriya and Malwatte Chapters and the Karaka Sangha Sabhas, an Exposition will be held from April 18. I invite all Opposition MPs to put aside animosity and attend. In the recent Presidential Election, some claimed that under us even temple processions would not happen. Now, under this Government, the Sacred Tooth Relic will be exhibited. Do not deride this.

¶ 03 On expenditure reductions and relief to the people: From the President’s Office to the Prime Minister’s Office, the Leader of the House, and the Government Whip’s Office, we are cutting costs compared to earlier periods.

¶ 04 As Chief Government Whip, I have appointed two Deputy Whips—Dharmapriya Wijesinghe (Gampaha) and H. M. Gayan Janaka (Puttalam)—and Assistant Whip Milewaganam Jegatheeswaran. None of the four of us are taking the vehicles, fuel, or perquisites earlier granted for these posts. Previously (since 2016), the Chief Government Whip—usually a Cabinet Minister who already has a ministry vehicle, fuel and salary—also received an additional Rs. 16,250 per month, plus 600 liters of fuel monthly. Each Deputy Whip received equivalent staffing and perks to a private office of 15 persons (private secretary, two coordinating secretaries, media secretary, public relations officer, personal assistant, five management assistants, two office aides, and two security officers). That is 30 staff for two Deputies. Each Assistant Whip received 10 staff (personal assistant, six management assistants, three office aides), so three Assistants added another 30. In total, six posts accounted for 60 additional staff beyond the normal parliamentary establishment.

¶ 05 Parliament staff confirm they never even saw many of those appointees within the premises. Monthly costs were roughly: Chief Whip’s additional office Rs. 697,423; one Deputy Whip Rs. 1,235,912 (two Deputies Rs. 2,471,824); three Assistant Whips Rs. 2,234,038. Total about Rs. 7,437,255 per month—roughly Rs. 75 lakhs—in addition to regular staff. Vehicles were insufficient so rentals were added; from Dec 2023 to Sep 2024 one Deputy Whip’s rented vehicle cost Rs. 2,490,500.

¶ 06 We calculated that under Presidents Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Ranil Wickremesinghe, across 49 months, the Chief Government Whip’s Office alone cost approximately Rs. 377.3 million.

¶ 07 By contrast, in January this year, our Chief Whip Office expenditure was Rs. 180,000.

¶ 08 On Presidential Commissions of Inquiry (PCIs): Since 2016, 14 PCIs were appointed. Their total cost was about Rs. 530.1 million. Notable among them: the Commission on Misuse of State Property (cost Rs. 62.348 million); the Commission on Missing Persons (Rs. 14.456 million); the Easter Commission (Rs. 106.38 million); the Commission to review the Anti-Corruption Secretariat (Rs. 35 million); the political victimization committee reports (2015–2019) (Rs. 84.2 million); and the Customs-related commission (Rs. 31.8 million). Astonishingly, the only PCI implemented with speed was the 2022 Commission to grant compensation to those affected by incidents from 31 March to 15 May 2022—the “Aragalaya compensation.” It disbursed Rs. 1,221 million to MPs and Ministers, and an additional Rs. 1,125 million to Provincial Councillors, Chairmen, Mayors, supporters, security and others—names include well-known local politicians and figures, even religious institutions. We will table the full list at the Committee Stage; many familiar names feature.

¶ 09 On former Presidents’ maintenance costs in 2024: Ranil Wickremesinghe Rs. 2.53 million; Gotabaya Rajapaksa Rs. 11.02 million; Maithripala Sirisena Rs. 18.57 million; Hema Premadasa Rs. 3.04 million; Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga Rs. 13.69 million; Mahinda Rajapaksa Rs. 61.66 million. Of the total Rs. 110.5 million, 56 percent was for Mahinda Rajapaksa; counting capital expenditure, 77 percent.

¶ 10 Meanwhile, from August to November 2024, in the President’s Office we reduced, month-on-month, salaries by Rs. 15.1 million, travel by over Rs. 3 million, fuel by about Rs. 4.6 million, vehicle maintenance by Rs. 35.6 million, and utilities by Rs. 15.5 million—by rationalizing staff and operations. We set the example from the top.

¶ 11 Therefore, to the Opposition: stop lamenting lost perks—official residences, vehicle permits, security. Threats will be met with proportionate security. But do not seek special privileges while the people’s taxes are being conserved. We will continue to reduce waste and be transparent. The people will support a government that leads by example.