A petition has been filed before the Supreme Court challenging the bill presented to Parliament by the government to revoke the privileges of former Presidents.

The petition was submitted by the Administrative Secretary of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), Renuka Perera.

It is reported that the Attorney General has been named as the respondent in the case.

Last week (07), 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. (Newswire)

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The Ministry of Defence said that military personnel previously assigned to the security of former presidents will be withdrawn effective today (Dec. 23).

The decision has been communicated to the heads of the tri-forces, and moving forward, only police officers will handle the security of former presidents, the Defence Minsitry said.

The development comes after the government decided to review the security arrangements of former presidents, citing the expenditure involved. (Newswire)

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Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala said that the government expects to save Rs. 1,200 million in taxpayer money following a recent review of security arrangements for former presidents.

Addressing concerns raised about the decision, Minister Wijepala criticized those opposing the move, stating they were primarily interested in using public funds for personal gain.

Wijepala said that security arrangements would continue to be reviewed every six months to ensure effectiveness while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

Minister Wijepala also said that starting next week, Tri-forces personnel will be withdrawn from the security details of former Presidents as part of cost-cutting measures.

Justifying the move, the Minister revealed the expenditure incurred for the security of former Presidents over the past 11 months of 2024, up to December 15.

Breakdown of Security Expenditure for Former Presidents

Mahinda Rajapaksa
•⁠ ⁠Tri-forces: Rs. 328 million
•⁠ ⁠Police: Rs. 327 million
•⁠ ⁠Presidential Secretariat: Rs. 55 million
•⁠ ⁠Total: Rs. 710 million

Maithripala Sirisena
•⁠ ⁠Tri-forces: Rs. 6 million
•⁠ ⁠Police: Rs. 185 million
•⁠ ⁠Presidential Secretariat: Rs. 16 million
•⁠ ⁠Total: Rs. 207 million

Gotabaya Rajapaksa
•⁠ ⁠Tri-forces: Rs. 258 million
•⁠ ⁠Police: Rs. 39 million
•⁠ ⁠Presidential Secretariat: Rs. 10 million
•⁠ ⁠Total: Rs. 307 million

Ranil Wickremesinghe (for 3 months)
•⁠ ⁠Tri-forces: Rs. 19 million
•⁠ ⁠Police: Rs. 60 million
•⁠ ⁠Presidential Secretariat: Rs. 3 million
•⁠ ⁠Total: Rs. 82 million

Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga
•⁠ ⁠Tri-forces: No expenses
•⁠ ⁠Police: Rs. 99 million
•⁠ ⁠Presidential Secretariat: Rs. 12 million
•⁠ ⁠Total: Rs. 110 million

Hema Premadasa (Wife of late President Ranasinghe Premadasa)
•⁠ ⁠Tri-forces: No expenses
•⁠ ⁠Police: Rs. 30 million
•⁠ ⁠Presidential Secretariat: Rs. 3 million
•⁠ ⁠Total: Rs. 32 million

The cumulative expenditure for the security of former Presidents over the last 11 months amounts to Rs. 1,448 million, the Public Security Minister said. (Newswire)

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The security detail provided for former Presidents has been reduced to 60 personnel following a review conducted by the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), it was reported.

According to the Lankadeepa newspaper, 116 Police officers deployed on security duty for former President Mahinda Rajapaksa have been transferred with immediate effect. 

The officers transferred to 38 divisions, include seven Chief Inspectors and four Police Inspectors. 

Meanwhile, three vehicles that had also been granted to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa have also reportedly been withdrawn. 

When inquired in this regard, the Police Department said the transfers of Police officers were made based on service requirements. 

The Department further said that the former President’s security detail consists of 67 Police officers at present, while the rest have been reassigned. 

The Police Department has also reported that former Presidents Maithripala Sirisena and Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga’s security details have also been reduced to 51 officers and 58 officers, respectively.

The department added that the security detail offered to former President Ranil Wickremesinghe will also be reduced in the future. (Newswire)

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Refuting recent claims that the security detail of former Presidents has been decreased, Government Spokesman Minister Vijitha Herath said no such measure has been taken as yet.

Addressing the weekly post-Cabinet media briefing, Minister Herath said that a committee has been appointed to look into the matter and once a report is provided, the Cabinet will take a decision in this regard.

He further said that the government will make a decision in this regard with reasonable consideration and provide only the necessary security details for former heads of state.

Addressing recent claims made by former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge that her security detail has been reduced, Minister Herath said that no such decision has been taken and that her claims were false.

He revealed that as of now, a security detail of 57 personnel has been provided to her. 

The Government Spokesman also pointed out that over 100 security personnel each have been provided to former presidents, as well as various vehicles and ambulances.

Stating that the government faces a cost of Rs. 1,100 million annually to maintain this service, he added that such an allocation has not even been made to any state entity. 

Minister Vijitha Herath said that, as such, the government is of the view that the security detail provided to former Presidents needs to change. (Newswire)

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