Abolishing former presidents’ privileges is not revenge; Minister Ananda Wijepala

11-Sep-2025

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The decision to abolish former presidents’ privileges is a transformation of political culture, not an act of revenge. If any security threat arises, it can be reported to the relevant committee, and necessary protection will be provided, said Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala.

He said this in Parliament on September 10 during the debate on the Presidential Privileges (Abolition) Bill.

Further, he said: Changing the existing political culture is not about revenge. The government is implementing reforms according to the agreement made with the people. Abolishing privileges is part of this. 

Some in power have lived by clinging to privileges — that political culture has now been brought to an end.

We know well the culture that prevailed. Everything was taken over — official residences, vehicle permits, salaries for ministers and MPs, fuel allowances. These have now been curtailed.

In this situation, the privileges of retired presidents are also curtailed by law. This is a change in culture, not revenge. This law has nothing to do with security. If a threat arises, it will be duly addressed.

The government has taken steps to ensure security for all citizens. We held lengthy discussions on the matter of former presidents’ privileges. If not abolished, they could at least have been restricted. But they were excessively enjoyed without limits.

For example, under this law, even Hema Premadasa, wife of former President Ranasinghe Premadasa, had privileges funded by large sums. In 2024 alone, she was allocated Rs. 26,85,660; Chandrika 

Kumaratunga Rs. 116,66,348; Mahinda Rajapaksa Rs. 546,52,990; Maithripala Sirisena Rs. 150,72,450; Gotabaya Rajapaksa Rs. 102,22,088; and Ranil Wickremesinghe Rs. 34,92,039.

Altogether, Rs. 985,88,039 had been spent.