Pension for politicians; Handle with care

Once the 'Presidents' Entitlement (Repeal) Bill' was gazetted on July 31 to abolish the entitlements for the past Presidents, as its name indicates, Opposition parties seem to be gradually teaming up against it, and another law for the annulment of similar facilities provided for the members of Parliament is to follow.

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The Bill provides for the deprivation of official residences, monthly allowances, secretarial allowances, official transport and such other facilities provided to former Presidents and their widows. The pension paid to the widows of former Presidents will also be abolished under this Bill, once it is passed by the Parliament.

The pension paid to the former Presidents is not included in this Bill as it comes under an Article of the Constitution and has to be revoked by a Constitutional amendment passed by the Parliament with two thirds majority.

Manoj Gamage, the Spokesperson for the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) had accused that the government was targetting former President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is also the leader of the SLPP with the Presidents' Entitlement Bill. His argument might have been based on the recent controversy over the official residence Rajapaksa inhabits now in Colombo.