November 16, Colombo (LNW): Leader of the House Minister Bimal Rathnayake told Parliament yesterday (15) that certain members of the parliamentary secretariat have been travelling abroad far more often than necessary, raising concerns about accountability and value for money.
He observed that a number of officials had undertaken several overseas visits yet failed to bring back a single meaningful proposal or recommendation that could support national development.
At the same time, he said, many capable officers who could genuinely benefit from international exposure had never been afforded such opportunities.
Rathnayake remarked that a small cluster of staff appeared preoccupied with perks rather than public service, reminding the House that Parliament ultimately operates under the mandate of the people, not personal entitlement.
Addressing delays in administrative matters, the Minister noted that the Speaker had instructed the Secretary-General on September 30 to submit a report on salary restructuring and related appeals.
However, he pointed out that the report had still not been tabled and said he had no explanation as to why the directive had been ignored.
