The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal submitted by the Minister of Justice and National Integration to instruct the Legal Draftsman to formulate two draft Bills to repeal the Presidents’ Entitlements Act, No. 4 of 1986, and the Parliamentary Pensions Act, No. 1 of 1977, thereby cancelling the special benefits granted to former Presidents and their families, as well as the pensions of Parliamentarians.

Speaking at the weekly Cabinet media briefing held yesterday (17), Cabinet Spokesperson Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said that the Bill on former Presidents’ Entitlements will only repeal the entitlements established under the Presidents’ Entitlements Act, and will not change or repeal the pension entitled to former Presidents under Article 36(2) of the Constitution. 

In response to questions raised by journalists regarding the possibility of changing or reducing the salary of a former President under the Constitution, he said: “This Bill will only repeal the Presidents’ Entitlements Act. The provisions of the Constitution govern only the pension of former Presidents. All the other benefits, such as the salaries of staff, come under the Presidents’ Entitlements Act. That will be abolished. From the date of its enactment, the respective laws will be applied to all the living former Presidents and their widows/widowers.” He also said that the incumbent Government has been given a mandate at two national elections to reduce the excessive perks enjoyed by former Presidents and MPs, and that therefore, these two Bills should be enacted soon.