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Ex-Presidents lose perks; Pensions next in line
By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana
In a rare event of legislative work, a bill which was passed by Parliament was signed into Act the same day stripping former Presidents and their widows of facilities - residences, transport and secretariat allowances.
Pensions being paid to them will remain intact. However, the government is planning to scrap even pension in the enactment of the new Constitution in the future.
The government got the Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Bill passed in Parliament yesterday by a majority of 150 votes. The debate on the second reading of the Bill began at 11.30 am yesterday and was followed by a second reading vote at around 3.30 pm, with 151 votes in favour and 1 vote against.
This Bill, which was presented to Parliament on August 7, 2025 by the Minister of Justice and National Integration, is a Bill to repeal the Presidents Entitlements Act, No. 4 of 1986.
Among the living former Presidents, Mr. Rajapaksa, Mr. Maithripala Sirisena and Ms. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga occupied residences provided by the government. Former Presidents Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Ranil Wickremesinghe did not accept housing facilities they were entitled to as former Heads of State.
Besides, Ms. Hema Premadasa, the widow of late President R. Premadasa, was using residential facilities
The government, in this manner, repealed a law that was introduced in 1986 during the time of J.R. Jayewardene as the then President.
Asked for a comment, Government MP Lakmali Hemachandra said that the government would plan the use of these houses now for commercially viable activities or any other productive purpose.
“We are going to set an example for a new political culture,” she said.
Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said that the government considers scrapping pension benefits of the former Presidents when enacting a new Constitution.
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