By: Isuru Parakrama
April 29, Colombo (LNW): Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa has claimed that cost-cutting initiatives implemented under his oversight have generated substantial monthly savings for the government, particularly since assuming duties as Chief Government Whip.
During a televised appearance on a current affairs programme, Dr. Jayatissa outlined the measures he personally adopted to scale back expenses tied to ministerial privileges and administrative costs.
Amongst the most notable actions, the Minister stated that he forgoes both his ministerial salary and parliamentary allowances, and has chosen to discontinue the use of luxury vehicles, including several high-end V8s previously at his disposal.
Fuel allocations for ministers, he revealed, have also been halved, and official residences have gone unused in the name of financial prudence.
Dr. Jayatissa pointed out that these personal decisions reflect a wider commitment by the government to curb unnecessary spending. He noted a drastic reduction in operational costs at the ruling party’s office since his appointment, stating that expenditure on personal staff for the Chief Government Whip’s office alone had been slashed from Rs. 7.6 million to just Rs. 200,000 per month—a claimed saving of Rs 7.4 million.
He also cautioned against local authorities mismanaging Treasury funds through imprudent projects. Citing instances where funds were used to build redundant bridges or culverts, he underscored that such wastefulness would undermine broader efforts at financial discipline.
The Minister insisted that every rupee spent from the public purse should be considered with utmost care and deliberation.
Addressing recent criticism related to government communication costs, Dr. Jayatissa responded to a claim made by NPP MP Nilanthi Kottahachchi, who alleged that the state had saved Rs. 98 million by not sending New Year greetings via SMS. According to the Minister, this figure was incorrect and traced to an unverified social media post, not an official source.
He acknowledged the error and clarified that whilst the intention was to highlight cost-saving measures, such inaccuracies must be avoided to maintain public trust. “Our movement stands for a shift in political culture, and part of that responsibility is ensuring accuracy in all public statements,” he said, adding that internal discussions had taken place to address the lapse and prevent recurrence.
In defence of the government’s handling of such missteps, Dr. Jayatissa stressed that mistakes made by a handful of party members should not be taken as a reflection of the entire administration. He pointed out that when such issues arise, the government does not shy away from acknowledging or correcting them, even during official Cabinet briefings.
Meanwhile, figures from former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s administration rejected the implication that New Year SMS greetings had cost taxpayers Rs 98 million, asserting that such messages were traditionally dispatched free of charge by telecommunications providers as a public service.
The Minister’s remarks come at a time when public demand for transparency and accountability remains high, and the country continues to grapple with economic recovery.
Dr. Jayatissa’s remarks, despite being met with some scepticism, aims to position the current leadership as one committed to rebuilding fiscal discipline and public confidence.
