COLOMBO, July 23: In response to bitter criticism by the people, parliamentarians of all Sri Lankan parties on Thursday agreed to pay market prices for subsidized luxury meals they get in the canteen.

This came after a private TV channel showed MPs having six-course five-star meals, but the chief government whip and commerce minister claimed that the TV clips were from a five-star hotel.

The minister requested the Speaker to make arrangements for this change, following protests that their representatives were getting five-star meals at prices for which ordinary people could not even get a cup of tea.

Opinion

Editorial

Centre vs provinces
Updated 10 Jun, 2026

Centre vs provinces

The reason the centre finds itself in this position is rooted in its failure to expand the tax net and boost revenues.
Party in crisis
10 Jun, 2026

Party in crisis

THE young KP chief minister must be starting to realise just how thorny a seat he occupies. There has been a flurry...
Varsity woes
10 Jun, 2026

Varsity woes

FINANCIAL crises affecting public sector universities across Pakistan are now having an impact on academic...
Doctor attacked
09 Jun, 2026

Doctor attacked

AN act of reprehensible violence has shaken the medical community. On Saturday, an employee of the Provincial Civil...
AJK flare-up
Updated 09 Jun, 2026

AJK flare-up

The situation started deteriorating after a trader affiliated with the JAAC was reportedly shot in an altercation with law-enforcers.
Fault lines
09 Jun, 2026

Fault lines

THE April 8 ceasefire that halted hostilities between Israel and Iran has encountered its most serious test yet....