The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe

¶ 01 Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim. Hon. Presiding Member, we are debating the Parliamentary Pensions (Abolition) Bill. Let me recall: C.W.W. Kannangara, the father of free education, rendered great service but later faced financial difficulty. In 1976, he asked Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike for Rs. 500, which she gave, and later Rs. 10,000 as a loan. From 1977, a parliamentary pension scheme for those serving five years was implemented—I believe by Minister Samarasinghe. He said recently that the President promised to hand over former Presidents’ official residences to the State, stop their pensions, abolish MPs’ pensions, stop vehicles and permits—and that, since the people gave this mandate, these five promises would be fulfilled. We are happy about that.

¶ 02 However, the system now being created risks ensuring that only those with money and big-party backing—or wealthy external financiers—can enter Parliament in future. That is not fair. The NPP leaders, including Hon. Bimal Rathnayake and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, long fought from the Opposition, speaking for the people; thus 159 were elected. But Sri Lankan politics can change quickly. Just as some Muslim MPs once supported President Gotabaya Rajapaksa—even when our people suffered—so too could future governments reverse decisions. Even the IGP’s removal was decided and implemented within a day. Similarly, a future government could restore pensions within a day.

¶ 03 There are 675,254 public pensioners. If possible, please consider further increases for them. The Tamil and Muslim people voted for you with great hope—many Northern and Eastern Tamil and Muslim Members supported you, not for nothing, but because they believed you would correct past wrongs. Please fulfil those hopes quickly.

¶ 04 You also promised to repeal the PTA completely. A year has passed; that has not been done. The UN special rapporteurs and working groups jointly expressed deep concern that the proposed new counter-terrorism law does not remedy the PTA’s core defects or meet international standards. Your Government should not earn such criticism; you came to power on integrity. Please amend it properly.

¶ 05 You also promised a new Constitution and a political solution for Tamil-speaking people in the North and East, and to abolish the Executive Presidency. Please act on these, just as you stopped vehicle permits.

¶ 06 Regarding the 78th Independence Day celebrations—this year’s event was excellent. Even during the war, we Muslims attended Independence Day because we are patriots. Finally, please reveal the mastermind behind the Easter attacks; the truth is still not disclosed.

¶ 07 Thank you.