An official document, PS/RTI/01/2023/205, obtained from the Presidential Secretariat, by Ceylon Today, reveals that former Presidents, namely Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena, Mahinda Rajapaksa, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and Hema Premadasa, the widow of Ranasinghe Premadasa, receive secretary allowances, fuel allowances and retirement benefits totalling a staggering Rs 3,715,350 monthly.
According to the information, former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa receives a monthly secretary allowance of Rs100,000, a fuel allowance of Rs 679,950, along with a retirement benefit of Rs 97,500. Similarly, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is entitled to a secretary allowance of Rs 50,000, a fuel allowance of Rs 679,950 and a retirement allowance of Rs 97,500.
Sirisena receives secretary allowance of Rs 100,000, fuel allowance of Rs 679, 950 and the retirement benefits of Rs 97,500.
Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, receives a secretary allowance of Rs 100,000, a fuel allowance of Rs 500,000, and a retirement benefit of Rs 97,500.
In a related context, Hema Premadasa, the widow of former President Ranasinghe Premadasa, currently receives governmental allowances. She is granted a secretary allowance of Rs 25,000, a fuel allowance of Rs 100,000, and a retirement allowance of Rs 65,000.
The disclosure also highlights specific anomalies in the allowances distributed. It notes that during October 2023, Bandaranaike received a substantial fuel allowance of Rs 500,000, while Premadasa was allocated Rs 250,000, raising questions about the allocation discrepancies.
According to the RTI application, dated 11 October 2023, based on the Article 36 (1) of the Constitution, Mahinda Rajapaksa and Maithripala Sirisena both who served as presidents of the country, are entitled for the retirement payment only for their tenure as presidents and are being excluded from receiving a prime ministerial retirement payment as well as their Member of Parliament salaries.
According to the Presidents’ Entitlement Act No. 4 of 1986, every former President and the widow/widower of a former President are entitled to a pension, fuel allowance and secretarial allowance during his or her lifetime. Moreover, they are provided with a suitable house to live in during their lifetime without any rent.
According to the information requests, made under the RTI Information Act No. 12 of 2016, it was clear that a single retired president or widow of a former president receive an allowance or protection given to former presidents (security) and that was not disclosed but Ceylon Today was urged to get that information from the Ministry of Defence and Ceylon Today would follow up.
The former presidents had stated to the media, on various occasions, that according to the Presidents’ Entitlement Act No. 4 of 1986, the pension that every former president is entitled to is credited to various funds and that they don’t take them for personal use.
But, it has come to light that no such funds had been credited to various funds as mentioned but they have credited these allowances to only their personal bank accounts.
The allowances and perks paid monthly to retired presidents and widows of former presidents are discussed in annual budget under the President’s expenditure heading. Their allowances and privileges were discussed in the Parliament this time too.
Speaking in opposition to this budget, Jathika Jana Balawegaya (JJB) Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said:
“Rs 84 million was allocated for former presidents last year, but Rs 110 million has been allocated this year. Former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the two brothers, who have been accused by the Court of complicity in the collapse of the economy, are among them. Therefore, when they have announced that they have participated in the collapse of the economy, this Parliament should not allocate money for them.’
By Mithun Jayawardhana and Sulochana Ramiah Mohan