Follow UK pattern when increasing pension

COLOMBO: The All Ceylon Union of English Teachers (ACUGET) has requested the Finance Minister to follow the UK pattern of increasing pension payments when preparing the Budget for 2008.

The Union has pointed out to the Minister that the principle of increasing pension payments in concurrence with the increase in salaries of public servants had been accepted in UK after the enactment of Pensioner’s Act. This had been accepted in several commonwealth countries too.

The Union says it should be followed in Sri Lanka too.

ACUGET Secretary Stanley Perera says if the UK pattern of increasing pension payment is accepted, 2.5 million senior citizens will benefit.

It has also proposed a flat rate of 20 per cent of rent allowance to be paid to all public servants in view of the acute housing conditions, to extend the proposed increase to the private sector also making it obligatory by legal enactments, to increase the public servants retiring age to 65.