2026-02-17 / Debate: Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Bill - Second Reading and Committee Stage 2026-02-17
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.
Mr. Presiding Member, during this debate our party’s position has been clearly stated by the Leader of the Opposition: there should be a pension for MPs.
Hon. Namal Karunaratne said public opinion is with the Government. We will soon test that. We had the Parliamentary election, then local bodies, now cooperative elections. I too am from Kurunegala. In today’s cooperative elections across Kurunegala District, we in the joint Opposition have won almost all societies except one. If you are confident, bring a proposal — even a simple one — to hold Provincial Council elections under the previous system. We will support it. Let the people decide.
As for the “research” you tout, the data are baseless. We are among the people; we know today’s realities.
On pensions, consider what your own people have said. The late Nandana Gunathilaka, your presidential candidate, publicly said he had no way to live, that he relied on his pension for medicine and rent. I table that statement. Likewise, former Kandy District MP Navarathna Banda was interviewed in “Maubima” yesterday about what would happen to him without the pension. Think of your own from 2010 onwards — 39 MPs — how many are in this plight? Some say they are ready to die — they have no means to live. There are such people in all parties.
The particular injustice your party inflicted was taking their salaries to the party, leaving them with nothing. Now you talk of revenge — this certainly feels like revenge on them, and a violation of human rights.
You say all 159 of you are making this sacrifice. But a single parliamentary term is now five years and often cut short. Since 2000, unless a Member served two full terms, they never qualified for a pension. Therefore, at least consider a minimum — as for public servants — of ten years’ service in Parliament to qualify.