Sri Lanka Parliament Ends Lawmakers' Pensions

Sri Lanka's parliament voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to eliminate pension benefits for lawmakers, a move aimed at addressing public anger over political privileges amid the country's ongoing economic recovery.

The bill passed with 154 votes in favor in the 225-member legislature, with only two votes against and the rest of the members absent. The legislation takes immediate effect and halts all pension payments, including those already being received or for which eligibility had been established. Under the prior system, members of parliament qualified for a pension after just five years of service, a provision that drew criticism for being more generous than those available to other public sector employees, who typically required a decade of service.

The decision fulfills a key campaign promise by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who was elected in 2024 on a platform emphasizing accountability and reform. His administration, which holds a two-thirds majority in parliament, has framed the change as a moral obligation to align lawmakers' benefits with the hardships faced by ordinary citizens. Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara, who presented the bill, told parliament that...