World News | Sri Lanka Moves to Strip Former Presidents' Privileges
Get latest articles and stories on World at LatestLY. The Sri Lankan government on Thursday gazetted a new bill which seeks to withdraw all privileges accorded to former presidents and their widows since 1986.
Colombo, Jul 31 (PTI) The Sri Lankan government on Thursday gazetted a new bill which seeks to withdraw all privileges accorded to former presidents and their widows since 1986.
Once it is passed, it will force stopping granting of special benefits such as an official residence, monthly allowance, monthly secretarial allowance, official transport and other facilities.
The current National People's Power (NPP) government of Anura Kumara Dissanayake in their election manifestos last year pledged to stop privileges to former presidents claiming it was a burden on the public.
The country currently has five former living presidents plus a widow.
Once the draft bill is placed on the parliamentary order paper, anyone interested could petition the Supreme Court challenging its constitutionality.
It will then be debated and adopted in parliament subject to any Supreme Court directed amendments.
Last month, the Cabinet granted approval to draft legislation aimed at repealing the Presidents' Entitlements Act No. 4 of 1986 and the Parliamentary Pensions Law No. 1 of 1977, effectively ending special privileges extended to former presidents, their widows and former MPs.
(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)