Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala

The speaker, drawing on his personal experience as a member since 1994, argued against the proposed pension cuts, stating he speaks on behalf of those who would be adversely affected. He urged the government to instead honour its commitment to address pension anomalies affecting approximately 600,000 retired public servants, rather than reducing benefits for a smaller group.

Hon. Alawathuwala reaffirmed the Opposition's position that a parliamentary pension should be maintained, arguing that abolishing it constitutes a hardship and a human rights violation, particularly for former MPs of limited means. He cited statements from the late Nandana Gunathilaka (the NPP's former presidential candidate) and former MP Navarathna Banda as evidence that former parliamentarians — including those from the governing party — face genuine financial difficulty without a pension, and tabled Gunathilaka's statement in support. He also challenged the Government's claim of public support by pointing to cooperative election results in Kurunegala District, where he said the joint Opposition won nearly all contests, and invited the Government to hold Provincial Council elections under the previous system as a further test of public opinion. As a compromise proposal, he suggested that pension eligibility be subject to a minimum service threshold — such as ten years, comparable to the public service standard — rather than being eliminated entirely.

Hon. J.C. Alawathuwala formally presented a petition to Parliament on behalf of Mrs. H.M.T.M. Kularathna, a resident of Weerambugedara, Pahala Huruggamuwa, Kandahenawatta. No further details regarding the content or subject matter of the petition were stated in the speech.