Former Deputy Leader of the United National Party (UNP) and Member of Parliament (MP) Ravi Karunanayake has stated that the current government’s actions concerning cuts to MPs’ privileges and allowances are not a new development.
Speaking to the media, Karunanayake emphasized that the government he was part of in 2001 also adopted similar policies regarding the reduction of such benefits.
He highlighted that, at that time, government representatives received only a fraction of the salary of ministers or MPs.
The MP further noted that similar policies regarding MP salaries were introduced during the UNP-led government in 2015.
However, Karunanayake expressed his appreciation for the government’s current efforts to implement a private member’s proposal he submitted to Parliament, which calls for cuts to MPs’ pensions as part of a broader policy.
