Speaker Jagath Wickremaratne is set to announce on Tuesday the Supreme Court’s determination on the Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Bill. Parliamentary approval for the bill is expected during this week’s sittings.
Several petitions had been filed before the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the proposed legislation, which seeks to abolish the official residences and monthly allowances currently granted to former presidents or their widows.
The bill also aims to repeal provisions relating to the monthly secretarial allowance, official transport, and other facilities provided to a former president or their widow.
At present, of the five living former presidents, only Mahinda Rajapaksa occupies an official residence, located at Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 07. The Government has previously attempted to have this residence vacated. The other former presidents—Chandrika Kumaratunga, Maithripala Sirisena, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and Ranil Wickremesinghe—reside in their private homes.
Hema Premadasa, widow of the late President Ranasinghe Premadasa, also no longer lives in an official residence but continues to receive a monthly pension under the existing Presidents’ Entitlements Act. However, once the Act is repealed, she will lose this pension. Former presidents, meanwhile, will continue to receive their pensions, as Article 36(1) of the Constitution ensures the payment of a salary, allowances, and pension to holders of the office of President.
The Constitution further stipulates that while Parliament may, by resolution, increase the salary, allowances, or pension entitlements of a president, it cannot reduce them.
Commenting on the matter, SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam said former President Mahinda Rajapaksa would abide by the law and vacate the official residence if the bill is passed by Parliament.
