While it is portrayed that the president, Prime Minister and the Cabinet are making a huge sacrifice at the present, housing and vehicles are even provided to state ministers at the cost of taxpayer money, former JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti alleges.
Speaking at a media briefing held today (06), he said that the National Election Commission should take measures to put a stop to such things.
"The government claims that there is no money to provide aid. They build up a debate that they have not received foreign aid. There are ways to provide relief to public. A price relief for fuel is one such way. Putting a stop to the wasteful expenses of the government is another," he said.
State ministers of the government are misusing official vehicles and violating election laws. The Elections Commissioner has specifically announced that only the president, Prime Minister and Cabinet ministers are allowed to use their official vehicles.
Meanwhile, on March 06, the Prime Minister has proposed in a Cabinet Memorandum that if official vehicles or quarters provided by the Prime Minister, the Speaker, the cabinet ministers, the opposition Leader, ministers or persons with similar designations are used to promote the candidature of their political parties, it should be as per several conditions.
Noting that this memorandum is a grave violation of election laws, Mr. Handunnetthi also points out that state ministers have also been granted privileges. He adds that a minister is being given a monthly fuel allowance of Rs. 240,000.
"From this money, the Rs 5,000 allowance can be given to 48 more families. Ministers have 7 - 8 vehicles. Relief measures are provided scantily, as if a bone is removed from the body. But taxpayer money is spent on their party members for the elections, while violating election laws. We urge the National Election Commission to put a stop to this immediately," he said.
The JVP member also pointed out that double standards also exist in matters of quarantine. The wealthy are treated in one way while those in poverty are treated differently.
(Mirror)