Ranaweera

Attacking the government over its decision to pay the monthly house rent of 40 ministers, non-cabinet ministers and deputy ministers, the JVP yesterday urged the government to set an example by taking tangible action to cut down on its expenditure.

Among the beneficiaries are several Democratic United National Party members who switched allegiance to President Mahinda Rajapaksa in January last year. LSSP and CP representatives in parliament, Professor Tissa Vitharana and Dew Gunasekera, too, receive these payments.

Anuradhapura District MP Ranaweera Pathirana (JVP) yesterday told The Sunday Island that nothing could be as bad as members receiving Rs 100,000 each as house rent while the poor struggle to make ends meet. Pathirana said that this was part of the SLFP strategy to mollycoddle MPs and also to woo opposition members.

He said the scheme had come into operation in April last year. The MP pointed out the absurdity in calling for public sacrifices in time of war whereas politicians indulge in extravagance at the expense of the public purse. He said that those who draw Rs. 100,000 monthly house rent, particularly at a time vast majority of people experience unprecedented financial difficulties, should be ashamed of themselves.

He likened the controversial payment to the VAT scam saying "I don’t see a difference as both involve the misappropriation of public funds."

Among the beneficiaries of the scheme were many politicians representing the Western Province, he said.

In response to a parliamewntary question by the JVP, Chief Government Whip Dinesh Gunawardena Friday tabled a list of the recipients.

They are: M. H. Mohammed, Professor Tissa Vitharana, Professor Viswa Waranapala, Jeevan Kumaratunga, Dew Gunasekera, P. Chandrasekeran, Gamini Lokuge, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene, Patali Champika Ranawaka, Susil Premjayanth, R. M. Dharmadasa Banda, Mahinda Wijesekera, S. A. R. Thondaman, Jayatissa Ranaweera, H. R. Mithrapala, Najeeb Abdul Majeed, Rohana Dissanayake, Basheer Cegu Dawood, E. M. Jayaratne Herath, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene, Kumar Welgama, Dr. Mervin Silva, S. M. Chandrasena, Mahinda Ratnatillake, Hemakumara Nanayakkara, Gunaratne Weerakoon, Faizal Caseem, M. M. Mustapha, K. A. Baiz, Chandrasiri Suriyaarachchi, Shanmugam Jegatheswaran, V. Puthrasigamani, Hussein Bhaila, Lionel Premasiri, Sarath Kumara Gunaratne, S. Nijamudeen, P. Radhakrishnan and Siripala Gamlath.

Ranaweera Pathirana said none of them needed government to pay their house rent. Most of them had accrued enough wealth for several generations, he said, accusing the government of heaping additional burdens on the suffering masses whereas politicians indulge in luxury living.

Many of the beneficiaries of the rent largesse own their own homes in the city. A large number of political office holders live in government bungalows. However there are some politicians living in their own homes in Colombo and the suburbs who do not draw these rent allowances.