A group of former Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) parliamentarians are preparing legal action against the party, demanding the return of their parliamentary salaries that were once diverted to the party fund.
The former MPs argue that they have been unfairly treated, claiming that their full parliamentary salaries were credited directly to the JVP’s party fund during their tenure. They say this arrangement has left them financially vulnerable after leaving office.
Several ex-MPs pointed out that they now survive on parliamentary pensions. With the current government signaling the possibility of abolishing those pensions, they warn that they may be left without any source of income if their contributions to the party are not reimbursed.
The lawsuit is set to name the JVP’s General Secretary, Tilvin Silva, as the key defendant, making him directly accountable for the financial arrangements that redirected their salaries. The former parliamentarians insist that the party has a moral and legal obligation to return the funds, especially given their uncertain financial future.
This move has stirred political debate, with critics questioning the fairness of the JVP’s long-standing practice of channeling MPs’ earnings into party coffers. The outcome of the case could set a precedent for how political parties in Sri Lanka handle financial contributions from their elected representatives.
