The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, I move that the Bill be now read a second time.

¶ 02 Why do countries make laws? Societies enact laws to protect shared values and morality—to achieve ethical objectives fitting their culture and practices. Law is a work in progress; people shape it through their morality.

¶ 03 For decades there has been a strong public view that MPs receiving a non‑contributory pension after five years is wrong. Our National People’s Power Government, under “Prosperous Country – Beautiful Life,” pledged to abolish this by law. We are delivering on that. We have already reduced Presidential privileges and honoured many promises within a short time.

¶ 04 We are not asking those already receiving pensions to return them; the repeal will operate prospectively—no one after enactment, including us, will be entitled.

¶ 05 In 2025 January alone, Rs. 34,406,186 was paid to former MPs as pensions. Whether small or large is beside the point; ethically, while rebuilding a country from collapse, we should not take such pensions. Hence this Bill.

¶ 06 Independent research shows rising public approval of the Government: Verité Research/Gallup tracking shows Government approval rising from 24% in July 2024 to 62% in February 2025 and 65% in 2026. Positive ratings on the economy rose as well, and satisfaction with the country has increased. Notably, our strong action against narcotics and crime attracts the highest positive evaluations.

¶ 07 We condemn all crime equally. We express condolences for the recent killing of an attorney and his spouse; culprits and facilitators are being arrested. We will continue firm action without politicization.

¶ 08 This Bill ends MPs’ pensions from the date of enactment—both for current and future Parliaments. I urge the Opposition to support the public will.