Details obtained under the Right to Information Act have shed light on the expenses for tea parties and ceremonial activities associated with the inaugurations of two parliamentary sessions in Sri Lanka.
During the inaugural session of the 9th Parliament under former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Rs. 287,340.00 was spent on ceremonial activities and tea parties. However, the Parliamentary Secretariat reported that no detailed calculation was made for other related ceremonial expenses during that session.
In contrast, the inauguration of the 10th Parliament under current President Anura Kumara Dissanayake saw a slightly higher expenditure of Rs. 339,628.55 for the tea party and related entertainment activities. Additionally, Rs. 72,350.00 was spent on the ceremonial aspects of the event, reflecting the costs of hosting a new parliamentary session.
These figures highlight the tradition of spending significant amounts on ceremonial occasions in Parliament, even as broader discussions on government expenditure and fiscal accountability remain a focal point in public discourse.
