Sri Lankan Parliament Votes to Abolish State-Funded Benefits for Former Presidents

Sri Lanka’s Parliament voted on September 10, 2025, to abolish all state-funded benefits for former presidents, passing the Presidents' Entitlements (Repeal) Bill by a clear majority. The move, which immediately strips ex-presidents of official residences, staff, vehicles, and other perks, marks a dramatic break from decades of political tradition in the island nation. Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne certified the bill after the Supreme Court ruled it was consistent with the constitution and rejected all legal challenges, clearing the way for its swift enactment.

Political Context and Public Pressure

The abolition of presidential benefits comes one year into the administration of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, whose National People’s Power (NPP) party swept to power on promises of accountability and a new political culture. Dissanayake’s government has faced mounting public frustration over persistent economic hardship, but his anti-corruption and cost-cutting measures have retained some popular support. The move to end ex-presidents’ privileges was widely seen as a response to public anger over elite impunity and the perception that former leaders continued to enjoy lavish lifestyles at taxpayer expense, even as ordinary Sri Lankans struggled with inflation and austerity.

According to independent reporting by EconomyNext, the Supreme Court’s approval of the bill followed a series of petitions challenging its constitutionality. The court’s decision to uphold the legislation was seen as a significant endorsement of the government’s reform agenda and a rebuke to critics who argued that the bill was politically motivated or violated the rights of former officeholders.

Fiscal Impact and Political Fallout

The repeal of state-funded benefits for ex-presidents is expected to yield modest but symbolically important savings for Sri Lanka’s strained public finances. The country remains under an International Monetary Fund (IMF) program and has faced repeated calls to cut wasteful spending and improve fiscal discipline. While the exact cost of former presidents’ entitlements has not been disclosed, the privileges have long included official residences, personal staff, security details, luxury vehicles, and generous allowances.

Opposition parties have accused the government of using the bill to distract from its failure to deliver on broader economic relief and political reform. Some critics argue that the measure is largely symbolic and does little to address the root causes of Sri Lanka’s governance crisis. Others warn that the abrupt withdrawal of security and support for former leaders could set a dangerous precedent and expose them to personal risk.

Reform Agenda and Public Skepticism

The vote to abolish ex-presidential benefits is the latest in a series of high-profile accountability measures by the Dissanayake administration, which has also pledged to trim presidential powers, expand welfare, and pursue corruption investigations. However, independent analysis by EconomyNext and other outlets notes that progress on deeper political reform has been slow, and many Sri Lankans remain skeptical that the government’s actions will translate into meaningful change.

Despite the mixed public response, the passage of the Presidents' Entitlements (Repeal) Bill represents a rare instance of Sri Lanka’s political establishment responding directly to popular demands for transparency and fiscal restraint. Whether the move signals a lasting shift in the country’s political culture or merely a tactical concession to public anger remains to be seen.