Speaker Karu Jayasuriya’s office yesterday dismissed as false and baseless, a report in some sections of the media that Parliament was planning to purchase 232 new chairs for Parliamentarians.
In a press release issued yesterday, the Speaker said that neither has attention been drawn towards changing curtains and other upholstery in Parliament since there was no need to do so.
A press release issued by the Speaker’s Office emphasised that the seats and other equipment in Parliament are historic and valuable symbols and careful thought should be given if decisions were taken to change them.
If chairs have been damaged, they should be repaired at minimum cost, without replacing them. As such, the Speaker would never allow these historic symbols to be changed.
The release said the Parliament building is the centre of administration visited by heads of state, diplomats and a large number of the public, including schoolchildren.
Therefore keeping it spic and span by repairing it and attending to its daily needs was a major responsibility in maintaining its pride.
However, there was a need to repair the roof and the sewage and toilet complex of the Parliament building. This was done with utmost care and transparency under the supervision of the Speaker. The release said the false news item regarding purchasing of new chairs was a deliberate malicious and mischievous travesty of truth aimed to tarnish the image of all Parliamentarians.
The Speaker has been prudent in spending Parliament funds. He got his predecessor’s vehicle repaired for his use without purchasing a new vehicle and even got the previous Speaker’s cloak mended for his use without purchasing a new cloak. His example is being continuously followed in Parliament.
Add new comment