The Hon. (Prof.) Ruwan Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Tourism
2026-02-17
## Summary Deputy Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe spoke in support of a Bill to abolish the parliamentary pension scheme for Members of Parliament, framing it as fulfillment of a key National People's Power manifesto commitment. He argued that parliamentary service constitutes a temporary public mandate rather than a conventional career, and that it is neither just nor ethical for elected representatives to receive lifelong pensions — particularly after a single term — while ordinary citizens struggle to meet basic needs. He contended that Sri Lanka's economic collapse reflected a political culture of excessive privilege disconnected from the public, and that abolishing the pension scheme would help restore public trust and establish a new political culture grounded in accountability and integrity. The Deputy Minister clarified that the Bill does not seek to reduce operational support for MPs, but rather to end a system of entitlement that he characterized as inconsistent with democratic service.
Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, I rise today
with a deep sense of responsibility to do the historic duty
of joining to abolish the pension scheme for Members of
the Parliament of Sri Lanka. For decades, post-
Independence governments in this country had operated
with a political culture where elected Representatives
have enjoyed extraordinary privileges while millions of
our citizens struggled to secure even their most basic
needs such as quality education, accessible healthcare,
dignified employment and economic security.
Madam, the consequences of this entrenched political
culture are not abstract; they are painfully real. After
decades of alternating rule between two dominant
political camps, our nation was finally driven to
bankruptcy. The effect of the economic collapse was not
merely financial, but moral and institutional as well. It
reflected a system that had drifted far away from the
people it was meant to serve. So, at the last Presidential
and General Elections, the people of Sri Lanka delivered
a historic mandate to the National People’s Power. They
did so not out of blind loyalty, but out of hope for a new
political culture, for accountability and for leaders who
live by the same standards the citizens they represent live
by.
Madam, our Manifesto clearly promised to abolish the
special pension scheme for Members of Parliament.
Today, we are here not merely to debate policy, but to
honour that promise. Let us be clear on this. Serving as a
Member of Parliament is a noble responsibility. It is
public trust; it is an opportunity to legislate, oversee and
shape the destiny of our nation. But, it is not and should
not be treated as a pensionable career in the conventional
sense. A pension is traditionally granted to individuals
who dedicate their entire personal life to a career within a
structured public service framework. This Parliamentary
office, however, is a temporary mandate granted by the
people. It is not a permanent employment; it is a public
service. The very title “Honourable” that we carry
signifies moral duty, not entitlement. Madam, when
ordinary citizens must work for decades to qualify for
modest retirement benefits, it is neither just nor ethical
for elected Representatives to receive lifelong pensions
after serving a single term. Such arrangements deepen the
perception and often the reality that politicians live above
the standards of civilization experienced by the average
citizen. So, we must end this culture.
This Bill does not seek to undermine the functioning
of Parliament. We acknowledge that the Members of
Parliament require adequate salaries, allowances and
institutional support to effectively discharge their duties
as policymakers. We do not advocate weakening
democratic institutions. On the contrary, we seek to
strengthen them by restoring public trust.
Madam, trust is the most valuable currency in
democracy. It cannot be demanded; it must be earned. By
abolishing the pension scheme for Parliamentarians, we
send out a powerful message to the people of Sri Lanka
that we are prepared to hold ourselves to higher ethical
standards, that we recognize leadership as a service and
not as an entitlement. This reform is not punitive, but
transformative. It takes a decisive break from the old
political order which normalized excessive privileges. It
signals the beginning of a new political culture rooted in
integrity, modesty and responsibility.
Madam, a fundamental question must be asked from
this House, from each and every Member or
Representative; it is time for us to question ourselves. Are
we here to secure livelong benefits for ourselves or to
secure a sustainable future for our nation? The people
have answered that question. They have entrusted us with
a mandate to prioritize the needs of civilians above all
else. That is our only agenda. Today, by abolishing the
pension scheme for Members of Parliament, we reaffirm
that mandate which demonstrates that reform begins with
us, we prove that political leadership in Sri Lanka is
ready to evolve. Let this be remembered as a Parliament
which chose principle over privilege, service over self-
interest and national renewal over personal gain.
Madam, with humility and determination, I also
commend this Bill to the House.
Thank you.