The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya – Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, when this Bill to Abolish Parliamentary Pensions is passed, today will be a historic day. The Opposition’s position is clear. However, rather than offering a reasoned justification for opposing this, they resorted to many anecdotal narratives. That is fine. Let me offer an analysis.

¶ 02 We are not doing this to be popular or to harvest votes. Yes, it was a pledge in our policy platform, and we are systematically implementing our promises. But why abolish this particular privilege?

¶ 03 As was noted, the first law establishing MPs’ pensions came in 1977. If we trace the amendments since 1977—1979, 1982, 1985, 1990—each one expanded the scope and duration of benefits to Members and their families: allowing choice of pension formulas; granting additional allowances to those already drawing a state pension; extending benefits to widows/widowers beyond the MP’s death; enabling children to receive pensions up to 21 years of age, or for life in case of disability; recognizing legally adopted children; and extending pensions to National List MPs. In short, amendments consistently widened MPs’ special privileges.

¶ 04 This reflects a deeper problem in our political culture after 1977: the progressive construction of a separate, privileged ruling class—elevating public representatives above ordinary citizens and widening the distance and hierarchy between them. The result has been public distrust, even contempt, toward politics and politicians, which is among the greatest threats to parliamentary democracy. When citizens see politics as a path to privilege and impunity, the best and brightest shy away from public life. We must reverse this trend—restore respect for public service, and show that politics is a vocation of service and sacrifice.

¶ 05 Our government’s intent is to change that culture—reduce the distance, rebuild trust, and re-establish politics as an honourable profession. This is not unique to Sri Lanka; democracies globally are under strain. Patronage networks and elite impunity—look at the global debates around cases like Epstein—undermine faith in institutions. We must dismantle such privilege structures and strengthen a responsive, dignified democratic culture.

¶ 06 Therefore, abolishing the MPs’ pension is both symbolic and substantive. It communicates that public representatives are not above citizens, not entitled to special lifelong perks. We will make mistakes; point them out, and we will correct them. But we must demonstrate through practice and policy that politics is service, not privilege. This Bill is a decisive, historic step toward that end, and toward regaining the public esteem that earlier generations of leaders commanded.

¶ 07 Thank you for the time, Hon. Deputy Speaker.