2026-02-17 / Debate: Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Bill - Second Reading and Committee Stage 2026-02-17
Hon. Ravikaran opposed the Bill abolishing parliamentary pensions, arguing it would discourage civil servants from entering politics and effectively restrict parliamentary candidacy to the wealthy or well-funded party candidates. He proposed either establishing a contributory pension scheme funded from MPs' salaries, or allowing former civil servants who complete a parliamentary term to rejoin their previous posts.
He also raised two constituency concerns regarding the Vanni region: first, that Development Officers recruited since the 1990s lack a rational transfer policy, resulting in staff serving 5–10 years at the same station and inequitable distribution across districts, and called on the Ministry of Public Administration to address this. Second, he highlighted that the Special Gazette of 2 February 2026 calling for graduate teacher recruitment omitted Hindu Civilization and Carnatic Music subjects for the Northern Province, despite documented shortfalls — including approximately 46 Carnatic Music teachers across six Vanni education zones — and urged urgent intervention to ensure the 2026 intake addresses these subject and regional gaps.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, if this Bill abolishing parliamentary pensions is passed, it will deter civil servants from entering politics. Those who resign from Government service to contest will lose their public pension; if the parliamentary pension is also removed, their livelihood is in question. The outcome will be that only the wealthy, or those supported by well-funded political machinery, can enter Parliament.
Our proposals are:
- Provide a contributory parliamentary pension funded from MPs’ salaries; or
- Allow civil servants who resign to contest and then complete a parliamentary term to rejoin their previous post or cadre after their service.
I also raise important issues of equality in the Vanni region. Development Officers recruited under various schemes since the 1990s still lack a rational transfer policy. Many have served 5–10 years in the same station while there are imbalances across districts. Will the Ministry of Public Administration and Provincial Councils and Local Government address this and ensure equitable resource allocation, particularly to the Vanni?
Further, the recent Special Gazette calling for graduate teacher recruitment (02.02.2026) did not invite applications for Hindu Civilization and Carnatic Music in the Northern Province, despite severe shortages—especially in Mullaitivu, Mannar and Vavuniya. For example, only about 75% of approved Hindu Civilization teacher posts are filled in the North, with far lower coverage in Mullaitivu and Mannar. In Carnatic Music, while Jaffna has excess teachers, six education zones in the Vanni suffer a shortfall of about 46 teachers. Please intervene urgently and ensure the 2026 graduate teacher intake addresses these subject and regional gaps.