News
Karu pleads with govt. to reconsider decision to abolish MPs’ pensions
Former Speaker and Chairman of the Retired Members of Parliament Collective, Karu Jayasuriya, has urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to reconsider the government’s decision to abolish pensions of former parliamentarians, warning that the move would affect about 490 retired and serving members.
Speaking to the media, Jayasuriya said, “For many, these pensions are essential for survival. Abolishing them will devastate the livelihoods of retired legislators and their families.”
Secretary of the Collective, former MP Pemasiri Manage, said that four party leaders currently received pensions..
Six party leaders, including Wimal Weerawansa, Dinesh Gunasekara, Tissa Witarana, and Vasudeva Nanayakkara, would lose their pensions if the Bill is enacted.
Manage said around 150 spouses of former MPs also relied on pensions, with a total of 490 former MPs and their families affected. He added that the pension of the late Lohan Ratwatte would now go to his widow.
Manage described Sri Lanka as “the only country in the world attempting to abolish the pensions of retired parliamentarians,” calling the move a violation of human rights. He said the Retired MPs Collective has appealed to the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva, urging swift action against the government’s decision.
In a letter to the UN body, the Collective, which represents nearly 500 members, highlighted that most retired MPs have no other source of income. Manage further warned that if the pensions are abolished, they may be forced to demand the return of salaries earned illegally by all MPs during their tenure, from Pradeshiya Sabha members to national legislators.
Under the 1977 law passed by the National State Assembly, the Parliamentary Pensions Act No. 1 of 1977, MPs completing five years of service are entitled to a pension equal to one-third of their salary, while those serving 10 years or more can receive up to two-thirds of their salary. The law was intended to compensate MPs who forfeit state pensions upon being sworn in, as required by the Constitution.
Manage said that the new government, however, has decided to scrap the pension system. Cabinet approval has already been granted to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a Bill repealing the Parliamentary Pensions Act.
The Retired MPs Collective has vowed to pursue legal action if the pension is abolished stating that many retired MPs are elderly, or ill, and are unable to find employment or run businesses. They argue that it is extremely unfair to abolish their pensions, which are often barely enough to meet their family’s basic needs.
News
Cabinet nod to increase the number of new automated passenger clearance gates at the Bandaranayake International Airport to 12
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 19.05.2025 to purchase four (04) automated passenger clearance gates for Bandaranayake International Airport.
In addition, it is expected to extend the automated passenger clearance gates facility so far given only to the Sri Lankans
parallel to the e – passport issuance system to be introduced in the year 2027 also to the foreigners who travel to and from this country.
Furthermore, considering also the number of air passengers rapidly increasing with the fast – forwarding business and tourism field, the appropriateness to increase the total automated passenger clearance gates up to twelve (12) in number has been recognized.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers, approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs to initiate the procurement and installation of 12
automated passenger clearance gates altogether with the already approved four (04) and another eight (08) automated passenger clearance gates adhering to the formal procurement procedure
Based on the observations submitted by the Task Force on Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing for Terrorism, approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 18.12.2024 to amend the Trust Ordinance No. 9 of 1917 including amendments proposed by the Financial
Intelligence Unit of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
Accordingly, clearance of the Attorney General has been granted for the Trust (Amendment) Draft Bill formulated by the Legal Draftsman.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Justice and National Integration
to publish the said draft bill in the government gazette notification and thereby, submit the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
Action was taken to provide a fuel relief for the fuel consumers during the months of April, May and June of 2026 to redress by minimizing the impact caused to the day today life of the citizens of this country as well as the entire economy due to the price hike of petroleum fuel in the global market resulting from the war situation in the Middle East.
Government mediation is essential for minimizing the impact on the day to today life of citizens in this country due to that war situation not being ended further. Therefore, it has been planned to redress on the sale price for Auto Diesel and Industrial Diesel for a period of 03 months by the Government to provide relief to the public as well as to maintain the prices at a bearable level to the consumers without escalating the fuel prices in this country compared to the escalation of fuel prices
in the international market.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to
allocate provisions subject to the monthly limitations respectively as rupees 15 billion for the month of October, rupees 13.5 billion for the month of November and rupees 12.15 billion for the month of December to provide the said relief
Cabinet nod to increase the number of new automated passenger clearance gates at the Bandaranayake International Airport to 12
Draft Bill for amending the Trust Ordinance
Implementing further relief programme to Public sffected by the Middle East conflict situation
Establishment of a Spectrum Management and Monitoring System and a Quality of Service and Quality of Experience System for the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka
Appointment of a Committee for the Restitution of Sri Lankan Cultural Heritage Held Abroad
Ten-Year National Action Plan on the Social Protection Sector (2026–2035)
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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