January 04, Colombo (LNW): Steps have been taken to dismantle the long-standing pension scheme for Members of Parliament, with a new bill formally published in the government Gazette proposing the repeal of existing legislation.
The Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Bill aims to do away with pension benefits currently enjoyed by MPs and their spouses, which are provided under the Parliamentary Pensions Act introduced in the late 1970s. If enacted, the proposed law would bring an end to these entitlements altogether.
The gazette notification was issued under the authority of the Minister of Justice and National Integration, signalling the government’s intention to press ahead with the reform. The move follows earlier approval by the Cabinet of Ministers to place the draft legislation before Parliament for debate and endorsement.
Before its publication, the bill was examined and cleared by the Attorney General, after which the Cabinet authorised both its gazetting and its subsequent submission to Parliament. Cabinet ministers had already agreed in principle to repeal the parliamentary pension law at a meeting held on June 16, 2025, paving the way for the current step.
