Sri Lanka’s Parliament has passed the legislation abolishing state-funded perks for former Presidents and their widows, in a decisive move aimed at curbing public expenditure. The President’s Entitlements (Repeal) Bill was endorsed by Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne after being approved with 151 votes in favour and one against.
The new law repeals the President’s Entitlements Act of 1986, ending provisions for official residences, monthly allowances, secretarial staff, transport facilities, and pensions for widows of former Presidents. The Supreme Court had earlier ruled that the Bill was consistent with the Constitution and could be enacted with a simple majority.
The measure will have immediate implications for former leaders, with Mahinda Rajapaksa expected to vacate his official residence in Colombo, which carries a rental value exceeding 4.6 million rupees a month. Former Presidents Maithripala Sirisena and Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga will also lose state housing, while Ranil Wickremesinghe and Gotabaya Rajapaksa have already returned to private homes. The government maintains the repeal will cut costs and reallocate resources, while critics argue it carries political undertones.
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