September 11, 2025

Hold your breath, Sri Lanka! The country’s parliament has taken a fiery step to cut down the lavish perks given to former presidents and their widows. On September 10, 2025, with a thundering two-thirds majority, the ruling National People’s Power coalition repealed the Presidents’ Entitlements Act of 1986. This old law allowed former heads of state to enjoy cozy government-paid homes, monthly allowances, secretarial help, official vehicles, and even pensions for widows. This dramatic change comes as the government tries to stick to its promise of fighting corruption and slashing bloated state expenses. Parliament Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne revealed that despite some legal challenges, the Supreme Court confirmed the repeal bill is fully constitutional and only needs a simple majority to pass. “We are repealing the 1986 Act to save taxpayers’ money,” declared Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara. The law’s new bite hits immediately, affecting all five living former presidents: Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and Ranil Wickremesinghe, plus Hema Premadasa, widow of the late president Ranasinghe Premadasa. Rumors swirl that Mahinda Rajapaksa might soon leave his government-sponsored mansion. This historic move sends a clear message: the era of expensive privileges for ex-leaders is coming to an end in Sri Lanka. Taxpayers can breathe easier, knowing their money is being guarded fiercely against waste and corruption. Who said politics can’t be spicy and efficient at the same time?

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Tags: Sri lanka, Former presidents, Presidents' entitlements act, Parliament, Corruption, State expenditure,