It was reported that the salaries of all Parliamentarians were to be increased by approximately 215 per cent to be on par with the recent salary increase given to Judges.
The need to increase salaries had come up for discussion at the party leaders meeting held on July 17.
Accordingly, the salary of an MP would be increased from Rs.54, 285 to Rs.120, 000 while the salary of a Deputy Minister goes up from Rs.63, 500 to 135, 000 while the salary of a Minister and a State Minister would be increased from Rs.65, 000 to Rs.140, 000.
Addressing a news briefing, JO MP Shehan Semasinghe said it would be another attempt of the Government to divert the attention of people from the prevailing crisis in the country.
“We will come to a unanimous decision after discussing the matter with JO party leaders. However, the JO is in a position to say that it was unfair to do so. Hence, JO would raise its voice on this matter in the next Parliamentary sitting,” the MP said. Speaker of House Karu Jayasuriya says a final decision has not been made pertaining to increasing salaries of Members of Parliament.
The Office of the Speaker issuing a statement said recommendations on the matter however have been called from the General Secretary of Parliament regarding the matter.
The statement said a proposal was passed in Parliament in 2006 claiming the salaries of Members of Parliament should be in line with the salaries of judges of upper Courts.
The Speaker of House accordingly requested the General Secretary of Parliament to table recommendations following the recent increment upper Court judges received.
The statement also noted that the views of the Members of Parliament will be gathered after party leaders are also consulted over the matter.
