The JVP says that even though it is stated that a State Minister does not receive a salary, the provisions allocated for a Minister according to the circular issued by the 2016 Ranil Wickremesinghe government, remains.
JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the only thing missing is the ability to attend cabinet meetings.
The privileges list is as follows.
Vehicle allowance
* 3 officials vehicles
* Petrol – Western Province: 600 litres of petrol per vehicle. Out of WP 750 litres per vehicle.
* Diesel – Western Province 500 litres, out of WP 600 litres.
* If the State Minister’s vehicle is petrol, a litre will be Rs. 450 and fuel worth Rs. 1,012,500 per month.
* If the state minister’s vehicle is diesel, a litre will be Rs. 430 and fuel worth Rs. 778,000 per month
* Vehicle and fuel allowance for State Ministry secretaries and additional secretaries.
Phone allowance
* Two for the office, 2 for the residence, and one mobile
* Rs. 20,000 for the 2 office phones
* Official residence phone Rs. 10,000 and mobile phone Rs. 10,000 (this is in addition to the fixed charges and taxes).
Staff
* 15 as State Minister’s staff
* Private Secretary, Coordinating Secretary, Media Secretary, Public Relations officials, 5 private assistant PR officials, two office assistants, 2 drivers
* Five among them would receive a phones with bill payments between Rs. 5,000 – 6,000.
Security
* 8 police officers
* Fuel and escort/back up vehicle
Dissanayake added that the cost of upkeep for the state ministers is the same as sustaining a colony.
