• Handunnetti claims Rs. 92.2 mn allocated this year for Gota, Sirisena, MR, CBK, Hema Premadasa

The privileges enjoyed by former Presidents and their spouses through the Presidents’ Entitlements Act, No. 4 of 1986 will be abolished as the first order of business under a Government headed by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP), the party’s Economic Council Member Sunil Handunnetti said while detailing the privileges afforded to former Presidents and their spouses.

He made these remarks during a media briefing held yesterday (14).

Handunnetti stressed that the aforementioned Act provided lifestyles of luxury for former Presidents and their spouses during an economic crisis when the general public has been asked to tighten their belts. “The sums provided are being increased annually,” he noted.

Detailing the privileges accorded to former Presidents and their spouses, Handunnetti claimed: “This year (2023), the former Presidents’ expenses have been increased. For this year alone, Rs. 92.2 million has been allocated for former Presidents and their spouses.” 

“For vehicles for former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Rs. 1 million was provided in 2022 which has been increased to Rs. 10 million this year. She has been receiving a continuous pension of Rs. 1.17 million. In other expenses, she has received Rs. 3.5 million, whilst Rs. 1 million has been allocated annually for buildings used by her.”

Speaking of the privileges provided to former President and incumbent Government MP Mahinda Rajapaksa, he alleged that a sum of Rs. 2 million allocated in 2022 has been increased to Rs. 10 million. He further noted that Rajapaksa received a pension of Rs. 1.17 million, Rs. 1 million for buildings, and a further Rs. 1.1 million for other expenses. “Apart from this, Rajapaksa, during his tenure as the Prime Minister, just as for the Presidential quarters, obtained Rs. 229 million for the maintenance of the Prime Minister’s Office. He had obtained Rs. 70 million for entertainment expenses and a further Rs. 12 million for local and international entertainment expenses”.

“The spouse of late President Ranasinghe Premadasa, Hema Premadasa, in 2022, had obtained Rs. 800,000 for vehicles and this amount has been increased to Rs. 5 million this year. She receives Rs. 780,000 as her pension. For other expenses, she receives Rs. 1.5 million, which has been increased from Rs. 1.3 million in 2022. For buildings, she received Rs. 1 million. This year, a total of Rs. 8.28 million has been allocated for her.”

Speaking further, Handunnetti claimed that former President and incumbent Opposition MP Maithripala Sirisena received a sum of Rs. 10 million for vehicles this year, which was an increase from Rs. 2 million allocated in 2022. He takes a pension of Rs. 1.17 million. In other expenses, he obtained Rs. 11 million this year over Rs. 10 million for last year. For buildings, he takes Rs. 1 million”.

“Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has been allocated Rs. 12 million for this year. He receives Rs. 2 million for vehicles, Rs. 1.17 million as a pension, Rs. 10 million in other expenses, and Rs. 1 million for buildings.”

He also added: “Only former President J.R. Jayewardene moved to his home during retirement without moving into Presidential quarters. Apart from him, none of the other Presidents held back from accepting Presidential quarters.

“We believe that none of the former Presidents or their spouses has any financial difficulties in comparison to the general public. They have houses in Colombo; they have properties; and they have children and people to look into their needs. They did not enter politics with nothing. They have money in banks abroad and properties abroad. At a time when the people are suffering, children are dying of hunger, there are no medicines in hospitals, and when all surgical operations apart from urgent surgeries are being stopped in hospitals, they are still enjoying all these privileges. This has to stop. A Government that stops this has to emerge,” Handunnetti further stressed, while adding that the party had therefore already delegated the responsibility of working towards the abolishment of the said Act.

“We come into politics for the service of the public and not for a job or a business. We guarantee that this (the abolishment of the said Act) will happen during a Government led by the NPP.”

The provisions of the Presidents’ Entitlements Act, No. 4 of 1986 provides for former Presidents to be granted a rent-free place of residence, a monthly secretarial allowance, transport facilities, and a monthly pension including for the widow/widower in the event of a former President’s demise.