The Hon. Sunil Watagala, Attorney-at-Law - Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I use this time to reply to the criticisms made today by Hon. Namal Rajapaksa and Hon. Chanaka Madugoda targeting our Ministry’s officer, Mr. Ananda Wijepala. Hon. Madugoda tabled a report on salaries and allowances paid by the Secretariat of the Committee on Eradication of Corruption. Initially he did not table it; only after Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe’s remarks did he do so. I obtained the tabled document immediately.

¶ 02 What is the allegation? That Mr. Ananda Wijepala, then Director at the Secretariat, drew about Rs. 1.2 million. Do you know how much per month? Rs. 45,115 for 30 months—about Rs. 1.2 million. That Rs. 45,115 includes a Rs. 5,000 telephone allowance and the sum for 150 litres of petrol. Those two items alone make up around Rs. 18,000.

¶ 03 Do you believe a Director of that Secretariat would survive on a meagre Rs. 45,115 salary? Here is the appointment letter. It states: “The monthly salary of the officer should be paid continuously by your Ministry. And 50 percent of the basic salary and the telephone allowance for the above post will be paid by this office.” I already mentioned the Rs. 5,000 phone allowance and 150 litres of petrol.

¶ 04 Listen, Hon. Namal. The issue is this: come here and throw mud, then shout “Eureka, Eureka” and run out the two doors. If you throw a challenge, you must stay to hear the answer.

¶ 05 Anton Perera, now Chairman of the National Lotteries Board, received Rs. 21,527. Would a Deputy Director work for Rs. 21,527? From the very document Hon. Madugoda tabled, it is proven these are allowances. His appointment letter also records that.