House to debate resolution to hike payments to chairpersons, members of independent commissions

A Resolution to increase the emoluments and other allowances paid to Chairpersons and Members of 9 Independent Commissions set up under the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, will be taken up for debate in Parliament on Thursday.

The monthly allowance of Rs 100,000 paid at present to the Chairpersons of Independent Commissions, other than those of Ex-officio Chairpersons, will be increased to Rs 135,000.

The Ex-officio Chairpersons will be paid a monthly allowance equivalent to 50% of the monthly allowance paid to Chairpersons of Independent Commissions, in addition to salaries and allowances of their substantive posts.

The monthly allowance of Rs 75,000 paid at present to non-Ex-officio Members of other Independent Commissions, other than the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruptions (CIABOC), will be increased to Rs 90,000, while Ex-officio Members will continue to be paid an allowance of Rs 10,000 per meeting of the Commission.

As the powers have been delegated equally to the Chairperson and CIABOC Members, under Section 8 of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption Act, No. 19, of 1994, the monthly allowance of Rs 95,000 paid at present to its Members, will be increased to Rs 130,000.

The Chairperson and Members of the Election Commission will be paid a special allowance equivalent to 75% of their monthly allowance during the period, from the day an election is declared to the day the results of that election are announced, according to the Resolution.

It will be moved in Parliament by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.