Sri Lanka, Jan. 23 -- Former Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake calling for a reconsideration of the proposal to abolish pensions for Members of Parliament.

In a letter sent in his capacity as Patron of the Former Parliamentarians' Caucus, Jayasuriya noted that at the time of Sri Lanka's independence, politics was largely dominated by an educated and wealthy elite. However, he said a major social transformation after 1956 enabled ordinary citizens to enter public life and serve in Parliament.

He cautioned that under the present circumstances, removing MPs' pensions would once again restrict politics to the wealthy, business interests, those who acquire money through illicit means, and...