'Self-employers should be looked after'

Ariyapala WANSATHILAKE-Kurunegala Central Special Corr.

Self-employers who served the country for a long period should be looked after with care and respect, State Management Reforms Ministry Secretary D Disanayake said.

He was speaking at an award ceremony held at the Kurunegala District Secretariate Conference Hall to honour those who are engaged self-employment in the Kurunegala district.

This was organised by the Sri Lanka Social Security Board Management Coordinator H K M Ranjith Disanayake.

Ministry Secretary D Disanayake said the Social Security Board (SSB) was incorporated for providing pensionable benefits for those who are engaged in self-employment.

About 65,000 self-employers will be enrolled as members of the scheme, he said. The Social Security Board spends Rs 3.2 million monthly for this, he added. S S B General Manager K M G Kure said there are a lot of self-employed women who need a helping hand.