In Parliament

Rectifying pension anomaly of retired public sector employees :

Rs. 15,000 m will have to be borne - Chief Govt Whip

Uditha KUMARASINGHE and Irangika RANGE

Chief Government Whip Minister Dinesh Gunawardane told Parliament yesterday that Rs. 15,000 million will have to be borne to rectify the pension anomaly of retired public sector employees.

The Minister said rectifying the pension anomaly will be considered to provide relief to pensioners when the Salary and cadre Commission recommendations are received. "A definite period cannot be declared. Rs. 15,000 million has to be spent to implement this proposal. Steps will be taken after discussions with the General Treasury," he said.

Minister Gunawardane said public sector pensions are prepared based on the salary scales drawn at the time of retirement and the relevant service period.

Accordingly, pensions of public servants retired before 2006 are comparatively low, he said.

Pension anomaly to December 31, 1996 was rectified during the UNP Government. The present Government rectified the pension anomaly to January 01, 1997 based on the Mahinda Chinthana, he said.

Action has already been taken by informing the Salary and Cardre Commission to furnish proposals to rectify the pension anomaly after January 1,1997, the Minister said. The Minister was responding to an oral question raised by JVP MP Jinadasa Kitulagoda.

Govt funds given to LTTE during UNP rule - Minister

Uditha KUMARASINGHE and Irangika RANGE

Chief Government Whip Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told Parliament yesterday that UNP MPs should read the Public Account's Committee report regarding the evidence given by then Finance Ministry Secretary R. Paskaralingam how Government's funds were given to the LTTE during UNP rule.

"The UNP has completely forgotten how Paskaralingam released Government money to LTTE leader Prabhakaran through cheques," the Minister said.

Minister Gunawardena was responding to a supplementary question raised by Chief Opposition Whip Joseph Michael Perera during oral questions.

Minister Gunawardena said the UNP gave millions of Treasury funds to Prabhakaran fraudulently. "But today the UNP talks without any shame."

The Minister asked why Paskaralingam was scared to come to Sri Lanka?

"Paskaralingam who stays in England is acting against Sri Lanka. He gave millions to Prabhakaran when he was the Finance Ministry Secretary."

UNP MP Ravi Karunanayaka requested the Government to submit documents to prove this transaction.