[Election violence by ruling party in Monaragala}
Rajapaksa’s 1348 strong presidential staff cost 447 SLR a year; Monaaragla lead candidate is his private secretary
President Rajapaksa’s 1348 strong official staff had cost the state Sri Lanka Rupees (SLR) 1,340.5 million during the last three years, Parliament was told on 10th Sep 2014.
Chief Government Whip Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena responding to a question raised by JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake provided these information to the parliament
The staff includes 13 consultants, 35 advisors, 55 coordinators, 24 coordinating secretaries and 19 coordinating officers.
Yearly salary of the advisors along is SLR 40 million.
Monthly salaries and allowances for the President’s staff is Rs. 39.5 million. Salaries alone are Rs. 23,961,477.53 per month. Allowances cost Rs. 9,653,898.90 per month. In addition, Staff Officers were paid Rs. 2,637,500.00 as transport allowances and Rs 3,282,449.66 as fuel allowances.
Even some of the elected members serve in the staff, for instance MP Rajiva Wijesinhe, MP Sajin Vass Gunawardene and Wayamba PC member Atula Wijesinghe are among them.
The most startling revelation was the fact that Chief Ministerial candidate of the ruling party and former Chief Minister of the Uva Province Shasheendra Rajapaksa is still acting as the private secretary to the President Rajapaksa.
Most of the election violence against opposition political parties at the on going Uva provincial election campaign have taken place in the district of Monaragala, where presidential private secretary, Shasheendra Rajapaksa is the lead candidate.
– Sources The Island and speech by MP Anura Kumara Dissanayke