Two more petitions filed against Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Bill

August 18, 2025 at 5:24 PM

Two more petitions have been submitted to the Supreme Court challenging the bill presented to Parliament by the government to revoke the entitlements of former Presidents.

According to reports, the petitions were filed by Harindrarathna Banagala, a resident of the Weyangoda area, and Premasiri Wijesekara, a resident of Pannipitiya.

The Attorney General has been named as the respondent in the case.

The petitioners claim that clauses 01 to 04 of the proposed Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Bill violate the principle of separation of powers guaranteed by the Constitution.

Additionally, the petitions allege that several clauses in the bill infringe upon the sovereignty of the people and the independence guaranteed by the Constitution.

Taken as a whole, the petitioners argue that the provisions of the proposed bill violate the fundamental framework of the Constitution, including Articles 1, 3, and 4, as well as the fundamental human rights outlined in Article 12(1).

Accordingly, the petitioners request the Supreme Court to issue an order stating that the contested clauses of the bill must be passed by a two-thirds majority in Parliament and approved by a public referendum.

On 07th August, Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara presented the Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Bill to Parliament, seeking to revoke the Presidents’ Entitlements Act, No. 4 of 1986, and abolish special benefits granted to former Presidents, their widows, and retired Members of Parliament.

The proposed legislation, published in the Gazette dated July 31, 2025, would end entitlements including official residences, monthly allowances, secretarial support, transport facilities, and pensions for former Presidents and their widows. 

Last week, SLPP Administrative Secretary Renuka Perera filed a petition before the Supreme Court challenging the bill. (Newswire)