Free postal service allowance increased for MPs and Provincial council members

COLOMBO (News 1st) - An extraordinary gazette notification has been issued to increase the annual free postal facility allowance for MPs and Provincial Councilors. It was issued with the signature of the Minister of Postal Services and Muslim Religious Affairs M. H. A. Haleem. Thereby the annual free postal facilities allowed to MPs have been increased from Rs 175,000 to Rs 350,000 amounting to an increase of Rs.175,000. Meanwhile, the annual free postal facilities given for Provincial Council members has doubled from Rs 24,000 to Rs 48,000. The Minister of Postal Services and Muslim Religious Affairs, Abdul Haleem said that they consider this as a fair request. He claimed that the MPs and the PC members had requested an increase in the stock of stamps provided and this led to an increase in the allowance. He added that although the media reported on this event only very recently that the matter had received approval and was in effect six months ago. Meanwhile, the General Secretary of the JVP Tilvin Silva said that if this matter is analyzed further that one could understand that this is just another way to notify that the government is preparing for the upcoming elections. He noted that the postal allowance was increased in order for the MPs to post letters to their supporters to facilitate a victorious election. Tilvin Silva noted that this is not a requirement of the public and that it was solely done in order for the MPs to obtain their votes using state facilities. He added that this wrong act should be stopped and that the amount allocated previously for the purpose was quite sufficient.