The Hon. (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj - Minister of Women and Child Affairs

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, thank you.

¶ 02 We debate the Bill to repeal Act No. 4 of 1986 on Presidents’ Entitlements. First, I draw attention to a 2023 newspaper extract I have brought: 789,242 families have no permanent home; 486,426 live in temporary shelters; 278,192 live in temporary housing; 44,419 live under coconut‑thatched roofs; 216,197 have neither land nor house; 166,841 have land but no house. The highest numbers of temporary dwellings are in Puttalam, Batticaloa, Jaffna, Kurunegala, Nuwara Eliya, Ratnapura, Kandy, and Badulla. When we took office in 2024, the Ministry of Housing data showed 1.9 million people lacked housing.

¶ 03 Against that reality — when people live under coconut fronds, have no land, or sleep by the roadside — those who came to power by their votes spent hundreds of millions renovating their own residences and, while in office, converted official houses into their private property via Cabinet papers.

¶ 04 Some Opposition MPs say the Act used the word “rights.” We must see how entitlements were turned into “rights.” In Sri Lanka, officials across the legislative, executive, and administrative services are provided official quarters and vehicles during tenure and must hand them back when the term ends. But former Presidents, even after their term ended or after being rejected by the people, did not relinquish what was turned into “rights.” What we repeal today is this conversion of perks into ownership.

¶ 05 I ask Opposition MPs representing districts like Batticaloa, Puttalam, Jaffna, Kurunegala, Nuwara Eliya, Ratnapura, Kandy, and Badulla — can you vote against this? To do so is to go against your people who suffer without homes.

¶ 06 We are committed to a governance of accountability. We promised a responsible political culture and to reverse a destructive political order, to build a prosperous nation and beautiful life. Some may argue that “those who served as President should be given this.” But not only Presidents serve this country — our war heroes, all public servants, executive and administrative officers, poor farmers, and estate workers serve the nation. From what they produce and pay, Presidents’ salaries, pensions, and official residences are funded. Yet while the people lack homes, those official residences became palatial mansions maintained at public expense. We are ending that maintenance. We are not touching pensions or security of former Presidents.

¶ 07 What is removed? Previously, every former President — and their widow — was to be provided a residence rent‑free for life. We can accept provision of a residence for the term of office; but under this Bill, the lifetime condition is removed. If, for any reason, a suitable residence is not provided, previously a monthly allowance equal to one‑third of the pension was to be paid — that too is removed. Secretarial salaries, utility bills for electricity and water of those houses — all were paid from public funds. That burden must end.

¶ 08 The President, as Head of State, Head of Government, and Commander‑in‑Chief, is appointed as custodian of the people — to secure land and housing rights, especially for marginalized communities such as plantation workers. While people lack these basics, leaders converted state houses into luxury homes. That is why we repeal the 1986 Act.

¶ 09 During COVID, when people lacked essentials and fuel, some spent Rs. 400 million beautifying their house façades and would not give up perks even after losing office. We must change that culture and build a humble, dignified, ethical political culture where office‑holders relinquish perks upon leaving.

¶ 10 We also seek legal accountability, administrative integrity, and responsible management of national resources. We reject rulers living in luxury while people suffer. This is not revenge; it is to create a new political culture: we will not enjoy anything the people do not have.

¶ 11 Accordingly, we are turning thatched shelters into proper homes. We have launched housing projects for the people; 10,000 houses for estate workers this year; resettlement and housing in the North and East; sanitation facilities; moving estate families from line rooms to detached houses; investing funds to uplift lives. Therefore, do not mislabel this Bill as revenge or to remove security. The destructive political culture is being defeated worldwide — Sri Lanka in 2022, Bangladesh, and now Nepal. We have passed that phase; the people rejected that culture and gave us a mandate to change it. We accept that trust and act with commitment. As a first step, this timely, democratic Bill repealing Presidents’ Entitlements helps the people’s future. I conclude.

¶ 12 Thank you.