Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa says he is unaware of the government’s plans to reduce the privileges granted to former presidents.

He made this remark when questioned by reporters.

Q: The government plans to reduce the privileges given to former presidents. What is your view on this?

A: I have no idea.

Q: They say there is no need to provide special perks to former presidents.

A: Maybe.

Meanwhile, a gazette notification has been issued for a draft bill aimed at amending the Presidents’ Entitlements Act No. 4 of 1986, which seeks to reduce the special privileges granted to former Presidents, their families, and retired Members of Parliament.

Last week, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal to gazette the draft legislation and present it to Parliament.

Earlier in June, the Cabinet also approved drafting legislation to repeal both the Presidents’ Entitlements Act No. 4 of 1986 and the Parliamentary Pensions Law No. 1 of 1977. These reforms are intended to end the special benefits afforded to former Presidents and MPs, including lifetime pensions for MPs who have served just a five-year term.

The proposal was submitted by the Minister of Justice and National Integration, who sought Cabinet approval to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare two draft bills to facilitate this legislative reform.