The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa

¶ 01 Madam Presiding Member, before we conclude, I must make an essential clarification on behalf of the Government. Some media reported a false statement made here yesterday by an MP that Rs. 7 million was spent on the Clean Sri Lanka launch. I state that no such Rs. 7 million was spent. Only about Rs. 900,000 was approved as payments—and even those have not yet been made. No monies have been spent for a singer, lyricist, or website as alleged. The figures cited are entirely false and baseless. Quotations were called as a matter of procedure; the Member misrepresented what was in those documents. Prices were high, so we did not procure. Not a cent over Rs. 900,000 has been spent from the Treasury for the launch, nor is any such higher expenditure intended. Therefore, the statement made was false. The cost schedule was entirely untrue. I state to this House that no payment exceeding Rs. 900,000 was made by the Government for this launch. Based on that, there is no need for the Member to resign; but the statement was false.