Hon. Bimal Rathnayake

¶ 01 There is a schedule on electricity and telephone charges, and schedules on food expenses for the years 2023 and 2024, certified by the Parliament’s Director (Finance), Mr. G. Sarath Kumara. I wish to table these schedules.

¶ 02 Hon. Speaker, please allow me a brief moment to make a few points regarding these schedules. I clarified these matters earlier, so today I will confine myself to fuel expenses. Parliament must be one hundred percent transparent to the people; public money must be accounted for fully. The people’s power over public funds resides in Parliament. Therefore, Hon. Speaker, I believe that all of us here, including you, must set an example of frugality and probity in the use of public finances, surpassing other public officials. I appreciate your efforts in this regard.

¶ 03 Very briefly: Former Speaker Hon. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana used eight vehicles during the period from January 2023 to 31 December 2023, with fuel expenditure amounting to Rs. 26 million. This is certified by the Director (Finance). I will table that schedule as well.

¶ 04 In 2023, the then Deputy Speaker Hon. Ajith Rajapakse used six vehicles with fuel expenditure of Rs. 14 million. The Chairman of Committees of the Ninth Parliament used four vehicles with fuel expenditure of Rs. 7.8 million. In 2024, the former Speaker used nine vehicles with fuel expenditure of Rs. 33 million.

¶ 05 For the first nine months of 2024, until the current Government took office, the then Deputy Speaker used six vehicles with fuel expenditure of Rs. 13 million. During the first ten months of 2024, the former Deputy Chairman of Committees used four vehicles with fuel expenditure of Rs. 7.2 million. All this is certified by the Parliament’s Director (Finance), Mr. G. Sarath Kumara.

¶ 06 With respect to the current Parliament: in the first one and a half months of 2024, the new Speaker’s fuel expenditure was Rs. 123,000; the Deputy Speaker’s was Rs. 45,000; and the Deputy Chairperson of Committees’ was Rs. 18,000. In January 2025, your fuel expenditure, Hon. Speaker, was Rs. 218,000; the Deputy Speaker’s Rs. 23,000; and the Deputy Chairperson of Committees’ Rs. 81,000. Up to 25 February, your fuel expenditure was Rs. 123,000 and the Deputy Speaker’s Rs. 25,000. I table all schedules containing these details.

¶ 07 Placed in the Library.

¶ 08 Hon. Speaker, we appreciate not only the tabling of reports but also the example you set. We also request that, in line with your intention, where audit findings warrant legal action, you consider such measures.