September 11, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s Parliament has decisively voted to revoke a longstanding law that granted extensive privileges to former presidents, including the right to occupy official state residences.
The Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Act, which received parliamentary assent on September 10, mandates that all such benefits be terminated with immediate effect.
This legislative overhaul now compels former heads of state, including Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena, and Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, to vacate the state-provided residences they have continued to occupy since leaving office.
The move is seen as part of broader efforts to curtail government expenditure and restore public confidence in the equitable use of state resources. According to party sources, Mahinda Rajapaksa is expected to return today (11) to his private home, Carlton House, located in Hambantota. Meanwhile, reports suggest that both Sirisena and Kumaratunga are also preparing to hand over their official residences to the authorities, in line with the stipulations of the new law.
The Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government has confirmed that it will be issuing formal written notices to any former presidents who fail to comply within the designated time frame. A ministry spokesperson noted that the Act is currently undergoing thorough legal review, and enforcement measures will be taken as deemed necessary.
The Bill, first presented to Parliament by the Minister of Justice and National Integration on August 07, 2025, sought to repeal the Presidents’ Entitlements Act No. 4 of 1986, which had entitled former presidents and their widows to a range of state-funded benefits. These included official residences, personal staff, transport facilities, secretarial allowances, and pensions for surviving spouses.
The new Act, which was passed by an overwhelming majority—151 votes in favour and only one against—effectively annuls all such privileges. It marks a significant step towards re-evaluating the roles and rights of former political leaders in a democratic society.
Speaker Dr Jagath Wickramaratne formally certified the legislation shortly after the vote, bringing it into immediate effect. The public response has been mixed, with some praising the move as fiscally responsible, while others argue it risks diminishing the dignity of former office bearers.
Nevertheless, the government has signalled its intention to implement the law uniformly and without exception, suggesting a new chapter in the relationship between former leaders and the state.
