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Loss of Share Certificate

Question: I have 100 shares of Seylan Merchant Bank and I have lost my Share Certificate No. 1560 for 100 shares. I wrote to International Consultancy and Corporate Service (Pvt) Ltd being the Secretaries for Seylan Merchant Bank. At their request I forwarded the perfected form. Indemnity for loss of share certificate and an affidavit under registered cover on October 3, 2008. I saw in the Daily News paper about 1 1/2 months back the notice re loss of my share certificate. It is normal practice that the duplicate certificate is issued after fourteen days of the press notice. As I have not received the certificate yet, I sent a letter dated January 27, 2009 inviting their attention but there was no response. My letter as a second reminder has been returned to me undelivered. Could you please help me to get this problem solved?

Dr. B. Mallikaratchi, Nivitigala.

Answer: International Consultancy and Corporate Services (Pvt) Ltd, secretaries for Seylan Merchant Bank PLC, have shifted their office. The new address is No. 29/23, Vishaka Road, Colombo 4. Tel. 5746984, 5746981, 5746986. Just two months since they shifted to this address from 160, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 4. There is a possibility that they will shift from the new address in about a month's time.

We contacted them and we have been informed that your certificate is ready and will be posted to you this week following our inquiry on your behalf. The delay has been due to their shifting office frequently.

Information to obtain copy of Birth Certificate

Question: My wife was born in Teldeniya and her birth registered at Teldeniya. She applied for a copy of her Birth Certificate (as she has misplaced her copy) on the appropriate form to the District Registrar. Registrar's Division, Medadumbara, Teldeniya. She needs the number of the Birth Certificate to fill this in the form, to renew her application for the passport. She is also required to attach a copy of the Birth Certificate in the application form for the passport.

A reply was received from the Divisional Registrar, (Pradeshiya Lekam) Medadumbara Kottasaya, Teldeniya, stating that the birth has not been registered in the Medadumbara Kottasaya of the Kandy District.

May I please be informed:

(1) Whether there are other Registrar's Divisions belonging to Teldeniya, where the birth could have been registered.

(2) If so, the appropriate Registrar's Division (Pradeshiya Lekam Kottasa).

(3) Any other appropriate advise to obtain the copy of Birth Certificate as early possible.

Telephone inquiries made from the Registrar Divisions in Kandy District have been confusing advising to apply to Pathadumbara; Yatidumbara, Pallispattuwa East, etc. I will appreciate your earliest possible response in view of the urgency of the need.

Major General  H. G. Silva (Retd) by fax

Answer: Unfortunately there is no way out, other than to apply for a copy with details for 'search' at the Divisional Registrar's Office. The Central Record Room in Colombo will not assist unless written to by the Divisional Secretariat. You have to indicate the exact place of birth, such as the village in Teldeniya where your wife was born.

If you indicate the village details to the Kandy District Secretariat, they will be able to tell you to which Divisional Secretary you should apply. Alternatively, you may apply to all three divisions, it will only involve extra stamp cost but your job may be done. Sorry there is no way we can help you unless you give us the village of birth and such information in order to inform you where to apply.

You may also try the Passport Office unofficially as there should be a copy with the original application for the passport.

Non printing of telephone directories by mobile telephone service providers

Question: I engaged a TV repair man who used to advertise his services giving only the telephone number.

After receiving an advance of Rs. 1,000 for a spare part, he failed to do the job, despite numerous telephone calls. Now his phone is disconnected.

In order to meet the man, one Hadley de Fonseka, I requested the address to which his phone 0714-025450 is registered, but Mobitel (Pvt) Ltd says this is very confidential information.

There was no response even from the TRC to my query. Copies of letters attached for your kind reference.

The advance of Rs. 1,000 was for a part said to cost around Rs. 2,500 or Rs. 3,000 and not easily available in the market but another TV technician did the job (a minor fault) without this costly part.

Kindly let me know and at the same time for the general information of the public why mobile operators do not print directories whereas Sri Lanka Telecom provide telephone directories.

J. L. R. de Silva, Etul-Kotte

Answer: We contacted the TRC and according to them there is no requirement or specification to direct any telephone service provider to publish a telephone directory. The SLT of course publishes their directory for very many years. Lanka Bell too was publishing their directory but they have now stopped publishing we understand. The mobile service providers in their agreement have informed their customers that the customer details will not be revealed to any third party (not even to TRC) other than to a court of law when summoned. We were given to understand by the TRC that SLT has proposed to publish all telephone numbers including those of other service providers but as to when it will come to past in anyone's guess.

We have forwarded to the TRC a copy of you letter for their response. They say there is no request from the public either to publish telephone numbers of mobile service providers for their consideration. We invite the public to write to them accordingly.

Delay in receiving my pension due to decision by NSB

Question:I am a 70 year old pensioner of the NSB and for the last 15 years my Pension was credited to BOC, Dehiwela, on their instructions, without-any hassle.

Recently, a newly formed pensions committee headed by a G.M. (Now Retired), decided, to pay the Pensions, through the branches, in order to minimize the expenses incurred in issuing cheques and posting amounting to Rs. 3 lakhs per annum.

The Committee claims that many had agreed to the proposal.

The majority of the NSB pensioners constitute to 95% of Postal Dept. employees, who never, maintained A/Cs with Commercial Banks to get their salaries remitted. The balance 5% who joined the NSB from Commercial Banks and the private sector, had been operating A/Cs with Commercial Banks and they had a good knowledge of the A/Cs, and the benefits they derived from them, and, most of them protested against the decision of the committee.

At the moment, I am a sick person, who has undergone two major operations, costing about Rs. 8 lakhs and was bedridden for nearly, one and a half years. I am unable to walk even 10-15 yards and to keep standing even for 10 minutes at a stretch. Therefore I appealed, and pleaded with the Bank to emit my pension to BOC, Dehiwela, as I am a disabled person and also as it was the earlier procedure for the last 15 years. But the NSB rejected my humble appeal. When the pension was credited to my BOC A/C at Dehiwela, I operated the A/C from home without leaving the house.

The NSB does not operate current A/Cs and issue cheque books and due to the, very unfair decision taken against the will of some pensioners, we are forced by the NSB/HO to proceed to the Branch to draw our pension irrespective of the conditions we are in.

Sir, I would be grateful and be much obliged, if you could kindly advise me as to what steps I should take or what actions are possible to get my pension credited back to the BOC Dehiwela A/C, so that I may be able to receive my pension on the exact date, like other pensioners in the country and also without any "Indirect" reductions.

T. S. E. Fernando, Mount Lavinia

Answer: We contacted the NSB and according to them you have taken up this matter with the Ombudsman. As per the settlement offered by the Ombudsman, the NSB is now transferring your pension monthly to your BOC account at Dehiwela. For this purpose they had obtained a letter of authority from you to debit your Savings Account at NSB - Mt Lavinia in order to transfer your pension to your BOC Current Account.

The Rs. 100 not transferred monthly is a balance remaining in your Savings Account in order to meet the minimum balance and this you can withdraw when above the minimum balance required. This we think is a fair solution. There has to be give and take since you cannot have your way at the expense of NSB.

[ Questions and Answers]

Sudden non payment of part pension

Question: I wish to seek your assistance with regard to the following problem. I worked as a Medical Officer in the Government Health Department from August 1962 to January 31, 1971. I then worked in the Colombo Municipal Council as a Medical Officer 1.2.1971 to 31.12.1990.

I retired on 1.1.1991 at the age of 56 as the Head of the Department.

Since retirement I received 6% of my pension from the Government Health Department under pension number 616608, and 94% from the Local Government Pensions Department under Pension Number 14896 as was the custom then.

On 4.7.2007 I was informed by the LG S Pensions Department that my pension would be paid then onwards as one pension under the number 616608.

In February 2008 my Government Health Department pension was stopped. Now I received only the local government pension.

On a request dated 8.6.2008 from the Pension Department Maligawatta Secretariat, the Divisional Secretariat, Thimbirigasyaya has sent all details required on 12.8.2008. But another letter dated 9.3.2009 making the same request has been sent to the Divisional Secretariat, Nugegoda. All my colleagues who qualified with me are now paid pensions in the region of Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 35,000. I obviously don't get paid my correct pension.

Would it be possible for you to please inquire into this undue delay regarding our pension as I am now 75 years old and need my pensions desperately.

Dr. (Mrs) C. J. Goonetillake , Rajagiriya

Answer: You have raised two issues one on the sudden stoppage of part of your pension and the other on anomaly in your pension. We think you should first sort out your non receipt of part pension and then address the anomaly.

Regarding the non receipt of part pension it is unfortunate that you are the victim whilst the Pensions Department has tried to do the correct thing of amalgamating both your pensions to one Department for payment. We have spoken to the Director Pensions regarding your matter and suggest you go and meet the Director as she is aware of your case and will assist you. Please keep us posted of the outcome or on the progress.

As regards your anomaly you should write to the Director General of Pensions with the heading and indicating on the envelop as well as Pensions Anomaly.

He will place it before the Committees on Pension anomaly. You should write to Director General of Pensions, Department of Pensions, New Secretariat Building, Maligawatta, Colombo 10.