After requesting govt. to scrap Speaker’s traditional budget dinner, SJB has grand five-star do same night

By Norman Palihawadane

The main opposition Samagi Jana Balavegaya that demanded the scrapping of the traditional dinner hosted by the Speaker at the conclusion of the budget debate on grounds that funds spent thereon could be channeled to provide relief to pandemic hit people had had their own party the same night in a five-star hotel in Colombo, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said.

“There was no additional cost involving the dinner except the amount stipulated by Parliament for the purpose of maintaining the tradition. As a tradition at the end of every budget debate the Speaker is expected to host all MPs to a dinner at the Speaker’s residence. This year, too, we adhered to the tradition but the SJB boycotted it. During the debate its MPs talked of the need to change the tradition in view of the COVID-19 and asked us to save funds and send them to the COVID-19 relief projects. They however after boycotting the traditional dinner had a dinner at a five star hotel in Colombo.”

He said that both the Leader of the Opposition and the Chief Opposition Whip had been at that party. “It is pertinent that they should tell people what happened to their intention of channeling funds meant for tamashas to COVID-19 relief fund,” the Speaker said.

State Minister John Seneviratne said that the tradition of the Speaker’s dinner at the end of a budget debate was an event the country had inherited from the Westminster system. “There are so many traditions that came with that system and those traditions are there for a purpose. It is not prudent for senior MPs such as the Opposition Leader and the chief Opposition whip to lead their newcomer MPs to break the tradition. It is worse when they host their own party in a luxury banquet hall,.”