The legislation presented by the government to abolish the MPs’ pension scheme was approved in Parliament without a vote at the third reading. The second reading debate on the Bill took place yesterday (17), followed by a vote, in which it was approved with a majority of 152 votes. A total of 154 members of parliament (MPs) had voted in favour, while two MPs had voted against it. The two opposing votes were cast by Chamara Sampath Dassanayake of the New Democratic Front (NDF), and Chanaka Madugoda of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).
Amendments proposed by Ravi Karunanayake and Chamara Sampath Dassanayake were also rejected. The proposals had included removing the retrospective effect of the Bill and allowing pensions for MPs over 65 years of age.
During the Committee Stage, an amendment was proposed to Clause 3, and a vote was taken and the amendment had received 152 votes against, while four votes were cast in favour. The MPs who had voted in favour of requiring amendments were Ravi Karunanayake, Faizer Mustapha, and Chamara Sampath Dassanayake of the NDF, along with Chanaka Madugoda of the SLPP.
Accordingly, the Bill to abolish MPs’ pensions was passed at the Committee Stage without amendments, with a majority of 148 votes. Independent MP Ramanathan Archchuna had voted with the government on this occasion.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa had told parliament during the debate on the proposed Bill that a pension is needed to keep MPs away from corruption. “Many countries provide a pension to MPs to prevent them from engaging in corruption. I am in favour of providing pensions to MPs,” he had said.
“The government has also cut the pensions of public servants,” the Opposition Leader had added.
The passage of the Bill to abolish the MPs’ pension scheme will now result in pension benefits currently received by former MPs and their widows being abolished. Over 550 former MPs and their dependents were known to receive these pension benefits.
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