- 9th Parliament under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa: Rs 287,340.00
- 10th Parliament under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake: Rs 339,628.55
By Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi
Following the inaugural session of the 10th Parliament, records revealed that a total of Rs 339,628.55 was spent on the tea party and other refreshments. This information, disclosed under the Right to Information Act, was officially released by the Parliamentary Secretariat. An additional sum of Rs 72,350.00 was allocated for ceremonial proceedings during the same session.
Historically, every newly convened Parliament has incurred expenses related to its inauguration. However, previous governments have often faced criticism and misinformation concerning these expenditures. Certain political factions have exploited these expenses to advance their agendas, frequently misrepresenting them as excessive or wasteful. In response, the current disclosure aims to promote transparency by providing verified figures for public scrutiny.
Comparative Analysis of Parliamentary Expenses
The records also highlighted expenditure incurred by previous administrations:
- 9th Parliament (Gotabaya Rajapaksa Administration): Rs 287,340.00
- 10th Parliament (Anura Kumara Dissanayake Administration): Rs 339,628.55
Notably, the expenditure reports for the 7th and 8th Parliaments were not disclosed by the Parliamentary Secretariat, despite requests made under Section 3(1) of the Right to Information Act. The Secretariat cited the absence of separately calculated records, even though similar documentation and administrative procedures were conducted. As a result, no verified records were made available for public review.
The Parliamentary Secretariat adheres to established legal frameworks when managing these expenses. Under Article 3(1) of the relevant parliamentary regulations, all financial disclosures must be accessible to the public. Additionally, Article 5 mandates that financial oversight and accountability measures are enforced by the appropriate authorities.
A Matter of Tradition, Not Misuse
The expenses associated with inaugural parliamentary sessions are a customary practice rather than an anomaly. The Parliamentary Secretariat has confirmed that these expenditures are consistent with established parliamentary procedures.
For example, during the 9th Parliament’s inaugural session under Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Rs 287,340.00 was spent on ceremonial activities. Similarly, under the current administration of Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Rs 339,628.55 has been documented for the same purpose.
Despite these being standard expenses, certain political factions have sought to portray them as financial mismanagement. This has led to misleading narratives, where figures are exaggerated or manipulated to serve political interests. However, official records confirm that these expenses remain within the customary range expected for such parliamentary activities.
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