The second reading of the Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Bill has been passed with a majority of 150 votes in Parliament, a short while ago.

During the vote on the second reading of the bill, a total of 151 Members of Parliament voted in favor while New Democratic Front (NDF) MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake voted against it.

Accordingly, Speaker of House Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne announced that the bill has been passed with a majority of 150 votes.

Subsequently, the bill proceeded to the third reading or the committee stage.

Following the committee stage, the Speaker announced that the bill has been approved without amendments in Parliament.

The debate on the second reading of the bill commenced this morning with MPs of both the government and the opposition expressing their views.

Following the heated debate for several hours, the Speaker announced that a vote will be taken on the bill since the government requested for a division.

Accordingly, all MPs representing the ruling party voted in favor of the bill while only one opposition member opposed it.

The Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Bill, which seeks to repeal the Presidents’ Entitlements Act, was presented in Parliament by the Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara, on August 7.

The Speaker of Parliament Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne yesterday announced that the Supreme Court determined that no provision of the Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Bill is inconsistent with any provisions of the Constitution of Sri Lanka. 

Accordingly, the Supreme Court had determined that the bill can be enacted by a simple majority in Parliament.

Furthermore, the Speaker revealed that the Supreme Court dismissed the petition filed against this Bill as the petitioner has failed to invoke jurisdiction in accordance with the mandatory provisions of Article 121(1) of the Constitution.

The Supreme Court had previously, on August 25, indicated that it would submit its confidential determination on the constitutionality of the bill—aimed at removing privileges of retired Presidents—to the Speaker of Parliament.

After an extensive hearing, a three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and Justices Achala Wengappuli, and Sampath Abeykoon issued the order concluding the hearing of petitions filed against the Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Bill.

On July 31, the Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Bill was gazetted. The bill was drafted to revoke special privileges extended to former Presidents and their widows.

Earlier in July, the Cabinet of Minister also granted approval to the proposal to gazette and present in Parliament the draft bill formulated to amend the Presidents Entitlements Act (No. 4 of 1986).

Accordingly, any residence provided to, or monthly allowance paid to, a former President or the widow of a former President in terms of the provisions of section 2 of the repealed Act;  monthly secretarial allowance paid to, and official transport and such other facilities provided to, a former President or the widow of a former President in terms of the provisions of section 3 of the repealed Act; and  monthly pension paid to the widow of a former President in terms of the provisions of section 4 of the repealed Act, will be abolished.