Draft bill to cut ex-Presidents’ perks gazetted

Colombo, July 31 (Daily Mirror) - The gazette of the draft bill aimed at amending the Presidents’ Entitlements Act No. 4 of 1986-reducing special privileges granted to former Presidents, their families, and retired Members of Parliament, has been released.

Last week, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal to gazette the bill and table it in Parliament.

Earlier, in June, the Cabinet also approved the drafting of legislation to repeal both the Presidents’ Entitlements Act No. 4 of 1986 and the Parliamentary Pensions Law No. 1 of 1977. These reforms would effectively terminate the special benefits extended to former Presidents and MPs, including lifetime pensions for MPs after just a five-year term.

The Cabinet approved the proposal submitted by the Minister of Justice and National Integration to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare two draft bills to facilitate this legislative reform.