Removal of former presidents’ perks is nothing but fulfilment of election promise: Handunnetti

• People should be perturbed only if we didn’t remove their perks and privileges as promised

By Ajith Siriwardana

Claiming that there is nothing to be surprised about removing former presidents’ perks and privileges, as it is only carrying out a promise made to the people, Minister Sunil Handunnetti said people should be perturbed only if the government failed to do so.

The Minister told reporters that the National People’s Power (NPP) gave an election pledge that a future NPP government will remove the perks and privileges of former presidents.

He said the former presidents’ perks and privileges were removed as per the NPP’s election pledge.

“No one should be worried about that. We are only carrying out the promises made to the people. If they had known it, they should have left their residences even earlier. It is a big mistake if they thought it was only an election promise.

Our manifesto is not only a manifesto targeting the election, it is also our agreement with the people to develop this country. No one should be surprised. People should be perturbed if we didn’t do so,” he said.