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45 water bill-evading MPs given grace period

24 Feb 2022

  • Requested to settle at least 50% of outstanding arrears 
  • Plan to recover from salaries and pensions likely to be shelved
BY Buddhika Samaraweera The Water Supply Ministry has granted a grace period of one month for more than 45 former and current parliamentarians (MPs) and ministers who have defaulted on their water bills for years, in order to allow them to settle at least 50% of their outstanding payments. Speaking to The Morning on Monday (21), Water Supply Ministry Secretary Dr. Priyath Bandu Wickrama said: “These Ministers and MPs have been given time till March to settle the relevant payments. After Water Supply Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara informed all of them in writing to settle the due water bills, most of them have taken steps to settle the payments.” Meanwhile, despite his earlier statement that the ministry would submit a cabinet proposal seeking permission to recover the relevant due payments from the salaries or pensions of the said ministers and MPs, Dr. Wickrama said that the relevant cabinet proposal would not be submitted if the ministers and MPs in question pay at least 50% of the relevant bills by March. During a meeting held at the Water Supply Ministry on 28 January, it was revealed that more than 45 current and former ministers and MPs have not paid the water bills of their official and private residences for years. Dr. Wickrama, on an earlier occasion, said that they had already taken many steps in order for the said due payments to be recovered. “Nanayakkara has instructed with regard to the steps to be taken. As one such option, we are currently in the process of preparing a cabinet proposal to obtain permission to recover the unpaid monies from the ministers’ and MPs’ salaries or pensions,” he added. Speaking further, he said that the Water Supply Ministry has also informed such ministers and MPs, both officially and individually. In addition, Dr. Wickrama said that the respective ministries of such ministers have also been informed of the matter. “There are both current and former ministers and MPs who have not paid their water bills. Therefore, we have also informed the Parliament and the Public Services, Provincial Councils, and Local Government Ministry.”


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