Rs. 5 m terror cover for MPs

All MPs are to be provided with an extended life insurance cover of Rs. 5 million in the event of death caused by a terrorist attack. A cabinet paper to increase the insurance cover from Rs. 1 million was submitted to the cabinet last week, but was delayed as further details such as amounts to be paid in the event of injury were required, Parliamentary Affairs Ministry Secretary Sitha Vithanachchi said.

At present, in addition to the insurance cover, the government pays up to Rs. 5 million in the event of the sudden death of an MP. Last week the family of former minister D.M. Dassanayaka who was killed in a claymore attack in Ja-ela on January 8 was paid Rs. 5 million. The government pays Rs. 100,000 in the event of the death of a civilian in a terrorist attack.