Bill targets additional privileges, not pensions of former Presidents: AG tells court

Colombo, August 25 (Daily Mirror) - The Attorney General today informed the Supreme Court that the proposed Presidents’ Entitlements Bill does not seek to remove the pension rights granted to former Presidents under the current Constitution, but rather to curtail the additional privileges provided to former Presidents and their widows under the Presidents’ Entitlements Act, No. 4 of 1986.

Solicitor General Viraj Dayaratne, appearing on behalf of the Attorney General, made these remarks when the seven Special Determination petitions filed challenging the constitutionality of the proposed Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Bill were taken up for hearing.

The Supreme Court three-judge-bench comprised Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, Justice Achala Wengappuli and Justice Sampath Abayakoon.