In a sweeping vote, Sri Lankan lawmakers scrap their pensions

Sri Lankan legislators overwhelmingly voted on Tuesday to scrap their pensions, in a bid to fulfil a key pre-election campaign promise by the ruling Left-leaning govt following anger over the country's economic crisis.

Lawmakers passed the bill on Tuesday by 154 votes in the 225-member House, with only two against. The remaining legislators were not present during the vote. In Sri Lanka, a lawmaker was previously entitled to a pension after serving a five-year term. The new law stops payments to anyone who already receives, or qualifies for, the pension. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, voted into office in 2024, pledged to end the practice during his election campaign. In a similar move, Dissanayake's govt abolished perks provided to former presidents in Sept in response to popular demand. Those included state funding for housing, allowances, pensions, and transport. An office and a staff for former presidents and their widows were also scrapped. There are currently five living past presidents and a widow.