More than Rs. 332 million in public funds has been spent on maintaining Provincial Council chairpersons and their staff despite the dissolution of the Provincial Councils, Deputy Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government Ruwan Senarath told Parliament on Thursday (24).
Senarath made the disclosure while responding to a question raised by National People’s Power (NPP) MP Ruwan Mapalagama.
According to the Deputy Minister, a total of over Rs. 332.9 million had been incurred during the period concerned for the upkeep of Provincial Council chairpersons and their administrative staff, even though the councils themselves had ceased functioning after their terms expired.
He explained that the situation arose from provisions in the Constitution and the existing legal framework, under which the positions of Provincial Council chairpersons continue to remain in effect despite the expiry of the official terms of the respective councils.
Sri Lanka’s nine Provincial Councils have been without elected members for several years, with successive governments repeatedly postponing provincial elections.
