Sri Lanka to Scrap Special Privileges for Former Presidents and Families

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Sri Lanka Cabinet has approved a draft bill to abolish the special privileges granted to former Presidents and their families.

The draft legislation, which seeks to repeal the Presidents Entitlements Act No. 4 of 1986, will soon be presented to Parliament. The Cabinet initially approved the preparation of the bill on June 16, and the Attorney General has now issued his observations on the finalized version.

“This draft bill has been prepared to abolish the privileges granted to former Presidents and their spouses, excluding the pension. This process will be completed within a very short period. You’ve seen how long this has been pending—now it’s being done swiftly,” said Minister and Cabinet Spokesperson Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa during a media briefing to announce cabinet decisions on Tuesday (22).

When questioned about potential implications for Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, particularly regarding security and diplomatic engagements, Dr. Jayatissa emphasized that the government’s decision applies universally.

“We haven’t made any exceptions for anyone. The decision applies generally to all living former Presidents and their spouses. The government is responsible not only for former Presidents but also for the safety of all citizens. These matters are continuously discussed within the Security Council, taking into account intelligence and security reports,” he noted.