Colombo, January 24, 2025: Sri Lanka’s government has implemented significant reforms to reduce ministerial privileges in response to public concerns over political excesses. The new regulations include caps on official vehicles, fuel allowances, and the number of staff assigned to ministers. Additionally, 50 luxury official residences previously allocated to cabinet ministers will now be repurposed for government departments or tourism, generating additional revenue for the state.
These reforms are part of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s broader agenda to promote decentralized governance and limit political entitlements. The government has also introduced a ban on appointing family members as staff for Members of Parliament, aiming to further curb political privileges and ensure a more accountable and transparent political system.
