May 1: The cabinet has decided that henceforth purchase of Toyota Land Cruisers by the government will be limited only to the Prime Minister and staff cars for member of Royal Family only.

The Prime Minister will be provided with a Toyota Land Cruiser. The Cabinet Ministers, the National Assembly Speaker, the Chief Justice, the Chairperson of the National Council and the Leader of the Opposition will be provided a Toyota Prado each.

The other parliamentarians will get a Toyota Yaris car or Nu. 700,000. They will also be provided monthly fuel and maintenance allowance.

A news release from the Cabinet Secretariat says the issue will be discussed with the members of the parliament.

Accordingly the Parliamentary Entitlement Bill will be revised before it is submitted to the National Assembly. The cabinet has also decided that henceforth the purchase of Toyota Land Cruisers will be limited only to the Prime Minister and members of the Royal Families.

Cabinet Ministers and parliamentarians will draw their salary and allowance with effect from April 1. As an interim measure, the Cabinet Ministers will draw their salary at the existing pay scale fixed by the Ministry of Finance in 2006.

The parliamentarians will be paid Nu. 30,000 as salary in the interim period. They will also be paid 30% of their salary as housing allowance in keeping with the draft parliamentary entitlement act.