In a move aimed at reforming Sri Lanka’s political system, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Hesha Withanage has proposed a sweeping abolition of privileges enjoyed by Members of Parliament. The proposal, outlined during a press conference, seeks to dismantle benefits that MPs have long received, including salaries, loans, housing, and security.
Withanage highlighted that these changes are essential to address the growing frustration among citizens over perceived political elitism. “Parliament should be about serving the people, not enjoying luxuries at their expense,” he said.
The key measures in his proposal include:
- Abolishing the basic salary of Rs. 54,285 for MPs and positioning parliamentary work as a voluntary service.
- Ending free breakfast and lunch for MPs, encouraging them to bring food from home.
- Halting the Rs. 10 million low-interest loan and Rs. 10 lakh insurance coverage for MPs.
- Reallocating Madivela housing units, currently designated for MPs, as hostel facilities for university students.
- Renting out Colombo parliamentary quarters to generate funds for student programs such as the Mahapola Fund.
- Eliminating dedicated security for MPs and Cabinet Ministers.
Withanage further stressed the urgency of implementing these reforms before decisions regarding MPs’ benefits, such as housing allocations, are finalized. “If we delay, the opportunity to make this change will slip away,” he said.
The proposal has sparked a wave of public interest, with many applauding the initiative as a step toward accountability and fairness in governance. However, analysts predict significant resistance within Parliament, where such reforms would challenge entrenched systems of privilege.
While some view the proposal as a political strategy to gain public favor, others see it as a genuine attempt to align the nation’s political practices with the struggles faced by ordinary citizens during economic hardships.
The timeline for the proposal’s submission remains unclear, but Withanage expressed his commitment to presenting it in Parliament as a private member’s proposal in the near future. Whether this radical reform will gain traction among lawmakers or remain a symbolic gesture of protest is yet to be seen.
