Opp. asks why waste money while people are starving

Speaker to consider SJB request to cancel traditional lunch after budget

By Saman Indrajith

SJB MPs called on Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to cancel the traditional Speaker’s Luncheon for MPs at the end of the budget debate and utilise the funds so saved for provide relief to pandemic-hit people.

Matara District SJB MP Buddhika Pathirana said that all MPs had been invited to the luncheon to be hosted by the speaker at the end of the budget debate.

Badulla District SJB MP Chaminda Wijesiri said that an enormous amount of funds would be spent on the luncheon. “All 225 MPs are invited and a large number of other invitees too are expected. Expenditure of this nature at a time when people have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and some of them are skipping meals. Following the Easter Sunday carnage, the then speaker Karu Jayasuriya cancelled the Speaker’s Luncheon. I propose that the money to be spent on the luncheon be used to provide relief to people affected by the pandemic.”

Speaker Abeywardena said that he would think about it.