Pension needed to keep MPs away from corruption: Sajith Premadasa

17 February 2026 03:34 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 52 Bookmark

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By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana

Colombo, Feb. 17 (Daily Mirror) - A pension is needed to keep MPs away from corruption, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament today.

"Many countries provide a pension to MPs to prevent them from engaging in corruption. I am in favour of providing pensions to MPs," he said.

"The government has also cut the pensions of public servants," he added.

Comments - 52

Lilac Tuesday, 17 February 2026 03:43 PM

Well said SP. That's why Singapore is paying politicians very high salaries to keep them away from corruption

1 0

Dr Prasad Edirisooriya Wednesday, 18 February 2026 02:10 PM

Vikata Nayaka Sajith is blessing for Pachawatte buddy sahodarayas.

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sunil Tuesday, 17 February 2026 03:45 PM

all these days MP's were provided a pension with tax payers money. Did corruption not exist?

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wickrama Tuesday, 17 February 2026 03:58 PM

What an idiotic statement. We have had such for the past 75 years with increasing corruption. Any person who works for the GOSL should receive a pension, which is a logical and fair statement.

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Insider Tuesday, 17 February 2026 04:00 PM

Next you campaign on a public platform, hope you say this, informing that MPs want to be elected to get a pension, otherwise they are very likely to be corrupt. Great saying.

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Nihal S Tuesday, 17 February 2026 04:05 PM

OMG - what a logic? Pension is a bribe asking them not to engage in corruption? Mr Premadasa, we are glad that you will never be elected to rule this country.

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Samy Selvarajah Tuesday, 17 February 2026 04:06 PM

Even with the pensions that the M.P's were getting, they have been highly corrupt during your time, as well. That means, pension getting person is corrupt, like you guys. Do not speak about the world because most of them are not corrupt. So, let us try stop the pensions as the first step and try. I am sure, Sri Lankans can change their corrupt game and become better citizens.

0 1

Anthony Tuesday, 17 February 2026 04:15 PM

IN SRILANKA EVEN YOU GIVE PENSION TO THE MPs YET CORRUPTION WILL NOT STOP. THEY BECOME MPs because they can make their money on corruption.

0 1

Hahaha Tuesday, 17 February 2026 04:22 PM

Hahaha… with all the pensions you opposition fellows received, did you people stop robbing ? You robbed the country till it was finally bankrupt That’s in your DNA. Thank god I didn’t vote for this man Sajith. You and the UNP / SLPP and the rest of the opposition leaders are all the same. The people have no hope with all of you.

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Sohan Tuesday, 17 February 2026 04:24 PM

If someone does not have enough money and financial stability. They should not do politics. Instead they should first stablize their family by doing a job or business. Even mps salary should be removed with fuel allowance. This way only financially stable people will only come to politics and less corruption

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Ram P Tuesday, 17 February 2026 04:40 PM

Sajith, May be you do not know the Sri Lanka history as you were born in the late Sixties. Prior to 1977 the MPs did not receive a pension. Pension was given by JRJ after 1977 and that with the open economy was the beginning of real corruption. Olden days MPs did not receive vehicle permits, pensions etc and they weren't corrupt.

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Lion Tuesday, 17 February 2026 04:44 PM

What a foolish talk , this man comes out always things that are not expected from an opposition leader.

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Sri Lankan Tuesday, 17 February 2026 04:48 PM

BS, as MP's did not involve in corruption while there was pension!

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Ro Bert Tuesday, 17 February 2026 04:49 PM

foolish opposition leader in the world

0 1

Ram P Tuesday, 17 February 2026 04:53 PM

If what Sajith say is analysed, with a little bait say Rs 50000-70000 if paid as pension, MPs will keep away from corruption. MPs corruption bring them Millions when in office and not the pittance given as a pension, MPs after retirement or after losing their seat in Parliament, have no power and no one approaches them for favours, So their power to be corrupt diminishes. Sajith is unfit to be the Leader of Opposition if he cannot understand what corruption is.

0 1

citizen Tuesday, 17 February 2026 04:59 PM

Hello Sajit - MPs vow to be elected to as they wish to serve the common man. The true MPs therefore should be able to have their sources of income and not be aliability to tax payers.

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sunil Tuesday, 17 February 2026 05:01 PM

what more can you expect form this person who aspires to be the President of this country one day. He is in fact justifying corruption. Give me a pension, if not I will steal- seems to be his motto-PATHETIC

0 1

Dr Tissa Fernando Tuesday, 17 February 2026 05:04 PM

What a stupid theory! Why the hell should taxpayers fund these useless people for the rest of their lives.

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coyozen Tuesday, 17 February 2026 05:07 PM

Sajit - True MPs should be beyond corruption like you ! We govt servants slave for 30 years to be intitled for pension, No way can you fellows [ some morons =claim entitlement after 5 to 6 years. Go fly a kite.

0 1

Dolly Dias Tuesday, 17 February 2026 05:12 PM

So, at present, with a pension being paid to the parliamentarians, why are so many politicians still corrupt? Another idiotic statement by our opposition leader. Dolly

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Ceylonese Tuesday, 17 February 2026 05:13 PM

I think the first good thing Sajith has said, I agree with him, MPs do need a pension scheme.

2 0

PunkaLatha Tuesday, 17 February 2026 05:18 PM

The country was bancrupted while you were getting all these perks. Pensions didn't play any role at all when they were lining up their pockets. Your silly logic is great only for the SJB calibre people.

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A COUNTRY IS NOTHING WITHOUT ALL OF ITS PEOPLE. ONE COUNTRY ONE PEOPLE Tuesday, 17 February 2026 05:24 PM

A CORRUPT PERSON BE THEY AN MP OR A ORDINARY CITIZEN, WILL ALWAYS BE CORRUPT. EX NP'S BY NOW MOST WOULD HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO SUSTAIN THEIR RETIREMENT. THE GOVT NEEDS THOSE FUNDS TO HELP THE MILLIONS WHO HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING, SUFFERING TO PUT FOOD ON THEIR TABLES TO FEED THEIR CHILDREN, DO NOT HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES WHERE EDUCATION, TRAINING AND MEDICAL SERVICES FOR DECADES AND DECADES. HAVE A HEART FOR THE MILLIONS THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHINDS FOR MAJORITY OF THE 76 YEARS OR SO.

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Peter Perera Tuesday, 17 February 2026 05:36 PM

Aney moda putha all these years with pension you guys robbed the country until it was bankrupt so what nonsense are you talking.

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Gt Tuesday, 17 February 2026 05:51 PM

Being in thr gov shouldn't be a way to earn money but a away to better the country, people who only go for power as a job or means to get money should not be in power

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CP Tuesday, 17 February 2026 05:56 PM

Sajith and the group are losing public credibility day by day. I have been wondering why there is a need to make a statement on every action taken by the government. Just stay quiet and let them run the show for a while. Your time will come. I also have no understanding of how this man became the opposition leader. There is a wide gap between your vision and the government’s vision, and Sajith needs to fine‑tune his strategy. You cannot change public opinion within a year after an election. First, focus on holding your existing opposition voters by representing on urgent matter, and then work on winning new voters in next 2 to 3 years by representing dissatisfied community who voted for the government. This man just run his mouth on everything and create issues day by day. Your voter base seems shaking and moving to UNP. Stop that first.

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Joker Tuesday, 17 February 2026 05:58 PM

I challenge him to say this in his SJB election campaign. A pension as a bribe to keep MPs from being corrupt. He has nominated MPs for the election with a tendency to be corrupt at a drop of the hat.

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Nihal Dharmatileke Tuesday, 17 February 2026 06:06 PM

Oh…oh this is clean shit

0 0

Concerned Citizen Tuesday, 17 February 2026 06:13 PM

And yet our politicians in the past were the most corrupted in Asia ! So paying pension will not stop them from stealing and corruption

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Guppi Tuesday, 17 February 2026 06:35 PM

So, SJB needs a bait for its MP's stay andcshow they are honest?

0 1

Milroy Peter Tuesday, 17 February 2026 06:59 PM

So that means when we will remove your pension sajith u will become corrupt

0 1

Sambo Tuesday, 17 February 2026 07:06 PM

What is the big talk of pension and what do they get. They took the pension and robbed a million times than the pension. You politicians cannot live on the peoples blood forever. Shame on you politicians.

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Franco Tuesday, 17 February 2026 07:33 PM

In the past, when the pensions were paid, were they away from corruption!!?

0 1

Joshua Tuesday, 17 February 2026 08:09 PM

Get lost with your normal nonsense stories.

0 1

Kasun Tuesday, 17 February 2026 08:25 PM

A pension after five‑years isn’t achievement, it’s robbery. ‘Not being corrupt’ isn’t a qualification—it’s the bare minimum. Real deterrence means one law for all. But true to form, Sajith shoots himself in the foot again—talking without thinking. Honestly, doesn’t the SJB have anyone to babysit this child‑man before he destroys the party’s reputation further?

0 1

Danny Tuesday, 17 February 2026 10:58 PM

What a statement from a man aspiring to be a head of state! It looks like, if I don’t have any job, I can steal.

0 1

M Fernando Tuesday, 17 February 2026 11:21 PM

Perhaps the Joint Opposition did not notice that having pensions for all these years did nothing to eliminate corruption.

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Mano Bala Wednesday, 18 February 2026 01:12 AM

Sajith, please tell me what did the MPs do to the country. Including you when you all come to power you robbed our country. The MPs are crooks. Nobody cares about the people.

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yogi Wednesday, 18 February 2026 01:30 AM

What is he talking about? The decision to cut the pension was taken by this govt. However, during the tenure of previous governments, the pension scheme was there. The question now is, did it stop the corruption of the MPs. NO. Then, the MP's had the pension and was also involved in corruption. Now only corruption, no Pension.

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vdot Wednesday, 18 February 2026 04:04 AM

This seem to be a lame excuse for to provide a pension for such a short term of service to the public ..the selection of these candidates for a pension is made not by any criteria other than party loyalty or the amount of clout in a group and hopefully the leaders of the party make choices based on the sound character and integrity of the person who seek nomination .a person with strength of character to stand against frauds or scams .. .In some countries a pension is offered but the MP contribute to the pension fund from their wages whist in service eligible after a specific period of time .

0 1

lansur Wednesday, 18 February 2026 04:44 AM

You must "Bribe" them to keep them from accepting bribes.

0 1

Citizen Wednesday, 18 February 2026 05:38 AM

Poor guys. They are going to be starving. Please do not compare our mps with mps of other countries. Ours are a special lot.

0 0

SM Wednesday, 18 February 2026 06:01 AM

Sajith, direct message to you. MPs can contribute to EPF and ETF like everyone else. Or do you think you guys are entitled to more than other Sri Lankans?

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RJay Wednesday, 18 February 2026 06:53 AM

If an MP is getting a pension, that means he is no longer in the Parliament. If a person who has no political power can engage in corrupt practises even after losing his power, can you imagine the extent of corruption these morons could have exerted in the society while being an MP? So is this a tacipt acceptance of corruption by Sajith of his team? What a corrupt moron he is!

0 1

Sam Thambiah Wednesday, 18 February 2026 08:49 AM

Does this half wit realise pension is for retirees ie; they ceased to wotk. Why would anyone bribe a MP who no longer is in a position to influence decisions? As usual Sajit talking to gwt attention without thinkingvthru how illogical his explanation is

1 8

RS Wednesday, 18 February 2026 08:55 AM

What BS is this loser talking. Scrapping the pension for MPs is absolutely essential. In fact if they are to serve the public they should not even be paid a salary!

1 10

Terrence K Wednesday, 18 February 2026 08:59 AM

Don't talk some bloody nonsense saying that pension is needed to keep MP's away from corruption. What you mean is that the government should pay MP's pension in ensuring that they do not pilfer the public purse. For your information a pension is afforded to those who have served long periods of service in the organisations they are employed and a where a widow's and orphans pension is paid is because the employee contributes a certain amount to this fund for the benefit of beneficiaries on his/her death. Just serving the country for staggered periods of 5 years does not entitle a person for a pension. What about the employees in the Private sector who do not enjoy a pension but served the respective organisation for 30 to 35 years. Why are you selfish only in promoting the pension because your mother being a widow is a beneficiary? All politicians opt to come to Parliament not to serve the Public but to fill their pockets and provide for their future generations.

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gamini Wednesday, 18 February 2026 09:23 AM

From the lifestyles of the MP's isn't obvious they are not living on their pensions alone

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Jude Wednesday, 18 February 2026 10:13 AM

In SL majority of politicians indulge in corruption and rest benefits from the corrupted politicians.

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Jude Wednesday, 18 February 2026 10:21 AM

In SL You cannot involved in politics without being corrupted. Remember politicians don't bring money from home to run public office. You need MILLIONS to run elections campaigns. I challenge NPP to prove me wrong that the last NPP presidential and general elections were partly bankrolled by Shammi Silva aka SLC bigwig.

1 0

Jude Wednesday, 18 February 2026 10:24 AM

Sajith your dad bought orange paint from Maharaj's And painted all Bridges Orange. Do you know how much he made from the deal!???

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Seqi Wednesday, 18 February 2026 01:51 PM

A pension given to keep a retiree honest is a bribe. We know that normal MPs are given a salary and perks but still grift to the hilt..... not all but many.

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