The Hon. Sunil Watagala, Attorney-at-Law - Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, today we seek to repeal the MPs’ pension law. Yesterday, during the 1–20 Cricket World Cup, Pathum Nissanka scored a century, with reportedly over a billion viewers—such public attention is now also on this repeal.

¶ 02 A brief history: On 21 July 1977, the UNP under J. R. Jayewardene defeated Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s Government. But on 07 January 1977—before that defeat—the Sirimavo Government enacted the Parliamentary Pensions Act, No. 1 of 1977, effectively securing personal benefits in anticipation of electoral loss. For 48 years the people have waited to see this socially unjust, narrow and self‑serving legal device repealed.

¶ 03 Successive Governments strengthened this scheme rather than abolishing it: Amendments in 1982 (No. 1), 1985 (No. 33) and 1990 (No. 47) expanded and entrenched benefits—extending to spouses and children—inviting money‑minded individuals into politics. A public servant toils 30–40 years for a pension; MPs could qualify in five. Later, even with less than five years, adjustments were enabled at the Finance Minister’s discretion. This was an abuse of power to legalize private comfort. We now end it.