Rs. 491 m spent on Ex-Presidents, widows since 2017

Saturday, 13 September 2025 00:31 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Government has disclosed that Rs. 491.2 million has been spent on allowances and benefits for Ex-Presidents and their widows from 2017 up to the first half of 2025.

The expenditure includes pensions, vehicles and other recurrent costs provided to Chandrika Kumaratunga, Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Ranil Wickremesinghe and Hema Premadasa, widow of former President R. Premadasa.

Hema Premadasa, Kumaratunga and Rajapaksa have been receiving benefits since 2017, Sirisena since 2019, Gotabaya Rajapaksa since 2022 and Wickremesinghe since 2024.

This week The Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Bill was passed in Parliament by a majority of 150 votes.

Accordingly, Sri Lanka has abolished: 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allowance paid to, a former President or the widow of a former President in terms of the provisions of Section 2 of the repealed Act; monthly secretarial allowance paid to, and official transport and such other facilities provided to, a former President or the widow of a former President in terms of the provisions of Section 3 of the repealed Act; and monthly pension paid to the widow of a former President in terms of the provisions of Section 4 of the repealed Act.