The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I direct this Question to the Hon. Prime Minister. It concerns the non-receipt by Members of Parliament, for this year to date, of decentralized budget provisions that are provided to all MPs.

¶ 02 In 1973, the provision of decentralized funds commenced with Rs. 500,000 per MP and was increased to Rs. 2.5 million in 1979, and thereafter limits were raised at various times. With the economic crisis in recent years, the program was temporarily halted.

¶ 03 Now the Government has announced that the economic crisis is over and that the country has been rescued from being a “poor State.” Therefore, I raise the following:

¶ 04 01. From 2022 to 2024, how much was provided annually as decentralized provisions per MP?

¶ 05 02. What was the total annual allocation for this purpose?

¶ 06 03. Under the Appropriation Bill presented by His Excellency the President for 2025, what is the total amount allocated as decentralized provisions for MPs?

¶ 07 04. What are the criteria laid down for disbursement this year?

¶ 08 05. What is the amount allocated per MP?

¶ 09 06. On what date will provisions be released to MPs?