Special pension scheme for artistes

Nadira Gunatilleke

COLOMBO: A special pension and social security scheme, ‘Saraswathi’ covering all artistes was launched yesterday at the Government Information Department auditorium with the participation of Cultural Affairs Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena and Social Services and Social Welfare Deputy Minister Lionel Premasiri.

Minister Abeywardena said late President Ranasinghe Premadasa established Tower Hall Theatre Foundation for the welfare of all Sri Lankan artistes and former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga allocated Rs. 40 million to set up a fund for the needy artistes. President Mahinda Rajapaksa launched this special pension and social security scheme extending further support and strengthen the artistes.

He said in foreign countries more advanced insurance schemes available for the artistes but in Sri Lanka there are no such schemes and it is the responsibility of the private sector to introduce such advanced insurance schemes. Most of the artistes have less glamorous lives than what they show on television and some of them do not have family support or any sort of help in their old age.

This new pension and social security scheme have State backing and will not collapse.

Minister Premasiri said the percentage of senior citizens will be increased by 20 per cent by another ten years and it is very important to plan a successful retired life and have a suitable pension scheme.

About six million work in the private sector and all of them should have a pension scheme and a social security scheme to have a better life after their retirement.

He said certain foreign teledramas and other programmes make people mentally sick and it is the local artistes who heal people. Artistes are loved and respected by all the people. Therefore it is very necessary to launch this pension and social security scheme.

Director General, Tower Hall Theatre Foundation, Douglas Siriwardena and Social Security Board Chairman Sarath Keerthirathne signed the agreement. This new pension and social security scheme offer three types of plans to choose from enabling the artistes to match it with their income and expectations.

All artistes between the age of 18 and 59 are eligible to apply for this scheme. They can get a pension up to Rs. 25,000 or more and social security benefits according to the instalments they pay and their family members will receive the benefits in case of death of the recipient.

Officials from the Cultural Affairs Ministry, Social Services and Social Welfare Ministry, Social Security Board and the representatives of artistes were also spoke.