In a significant development, Parliament today passed a private member’s motion to abolish the pensions of Members of Parliament. The motion was put forward by New Democratic Front (NDF) MP Ravi Karunanayake, who argued that the current pension scheme for MPs is an undue financial burden on taxpayers and lacks justification, given the often short tenures of parliamentary service.
During the debate, Karunanayake emphasized the need for greater fiscal responsibility and fairness in public spending, pointing out that many hardworking citizens struggle with inadequate pension schemes while MPs receive generous lifetime benefits after serving only a few years in office.
The motion gained bipartisan support, with several lawmakers agreeing that public funds should be allocated toward essential services such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure rather than lifetime benefits for elected officials. However, some MPs voiced concerns about the long-term implications of this decision, arguing that it could discourage qualified individuals from entering politics.
With the motion now passed, further steps will be required to implement the change, including possible amendments to existing pension laws governing parliamentary benefits.
