As MPs face pension cuts, former Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa alleges the new bill quietly secures dual pensions for the President, sparking fresh controversy over fairness and political intent.
Former Minister and President’s Counsel Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa has raised serious concerns over the proposed bill to abolish Members of Parliament pensions, claiming it has been drafted in a way that ultimately benefits President Anura Kumara Dissanayake himself.
Speaking at a media conference in Colombo, Dr. Rajapaksa said that while the bill is publicly framed as a move to end MP pensions, its provisions allow the President to qualify for two separate pensions. According to him, the draft law clearly states that even if a person serves as President for as little as five days, that period is sufficient to become eligible for a presidential pension.
In addition to this, Dr. Rajapaksa pointed out that the current President has already completed service as a Member of Parliament. As a result, he would also continue to qualify for an MP pension under existing entitlements. Taken together, this means the President could lawfully receive two pensions while MPs are stripped of theirs.
He further emphasized that this benefit would not apply only to the current President but to any individual who has served both as a Member of Parliament and later as President, even for a brief period. Dr. Rajapaksa questioned the fairness of introducing such a law under the banner of reform, while embedding provisions that protect the highest officeholder.
The remarks have added fuel to an already heated public debate over political pensions, accountability, and the true intent behind the proposed legislation.
