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| Friday, 23 July 2004 |
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Politics | |
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| Egg hoppers served in restaurant a canard: Subsidised meals in Parliament scrapped? by Rodney Martinesz and Bharatha Malawaraarachchi The Government and Opposition yesterday joined in unison to call for the scrapping of subsidised meals in Parliament and adopt common rates prevailing outside for meals partaken by MPs and others including journalists. The consensus came following a privilege issue raised by chief Government Whip Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle pertaining to a program telecast over Swarnavahini television showing scenes purportedly from the Parliament cafeteria of the type of luxury food served to MPs. The narrative in the program claimed that all these rich courses were partaken of by the MPs for a paltry sum of Rs. 15. The scene was also juxtaposed with that of a meal time in a poor home to highlight the contrast. Fernandopulle claimed that at no time has egg hoppers been served in Parliament and that the scenes were obviously shot at a five star hotel plainly to generate hatred towards Parliament and its MPs. The program was also so handled in a way to convey the impression that this was started under the Freedom Alliance Government. Fernandopulle claimed that only a handful of MPs dined at the Parliament cafeteria and for those who do, it is only for eight days a month. The program had also failed to mention the fact that while Mps pay Rs. 15 the same meal is partaken by journalists for only Rs. 5. The Minister went on to state that Sri Lanka's Parliament was not unique where such privileges such as subsidised meals are extended to its members. It is the same in the House of Commons. This practice has been enjoyed by local legislators since 1914. The law also imposes a punishment of imprisonment for reporting matters that did not take place in Parliament. The scene depicted in this particular video clipping did to emanate from Parliament. Chief Opposition Whip Mahinda Samarasinghe and JVP Parliamentary Group Leader Wimal Weerawansa endorsed the views of Minister Fernandopulle and called for a United decision to do away with subsidized meals for members and instead adopt the current rates prevailing outside. |
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