• P’ment SOC approves Bill 

Speaker of the Parliament Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne announced yesterday (9) that the Supreme Court (SC) has determined that no provision of the Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Bill is inconsistent with any provisions of the Constitution.  Accordingly, the SC held that the Bill can be enacted by a simple majority in the Parliament.

Through the Bill, residences, official transport, such other facilities provided to former Presidents or the widow of a former President, and the monthly allowance/monthly secretarial allowance paid to the same, along with the monthly pension paid to the widow of a former President, will no longer be provided or paid. 

The Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice, and Civil Protection has also approved the said Bill. The said committee met in the Parliament yesterday under the chairpersonship of Dr. Najith Indika. 

Commenting on the Bill, officials of the Ministry of Justice and National Integration said that, as stated in the Government Policy Statement, the Bill is expected to remove non-economic entitlements granted to former and future Presidents and their families, taking into account the economic conditions of the country. 

The officials further noted that retired Presidents or Heads of State in other countries receive pensions and privileges similar to those in this country because they often continue to perform certain official duties or responsibilities even after leaving office. They added that the repeal Bill includes provisions to limit the pensions and extensive privileges of former Presidents and their families who have not been assigned any official responsibilities.

The Parliament is to hold the debate on the Second Reading of the Bill today (10) from 11.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m.