Pension upped from next month

Suraj Bandara and Udula Peiris

The government will increase pensions by Rs 750 a month for those who retired before January 1, 2004, from next month. Those who retired between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2005 will get an increase of Rs 250 per month from next month.

This increase will be given to all pensioners except those who get a charity allowance. Joint pensioners will also be eligible to this increase as envisaged in the 2011 budget proposal. The pension increase is also valid for the Widows' and Orphans' Fund.

Those who retired after January 1, 2006 will not be eligible while their widows and orphans and expatriate pensioners are also not included. The Pensions Department requested pensioners to submit the completed salary revised application forms collected from divisional secretariats to the divisional secretaries.

During the last six years the government took steps for the benefit of the pensioners whereas the UNP during its rule, reduced the number of government servants and denied them their pension rights.

The government has provided several concessions and facilities to government pensioners.

The 2011 budget proposal suggested that the pension should be increased while the pensioners' cost of living allowance should also be increased by Rs. 2,375. Accordingly, the COL allowance was also increased by Rs. 2,375. The Cabinet unanimously took a decision to declare October 8 as National Pensioners day.

The government also conferred " Desha Keerthi and Senior Citizen' titles to senior pensioners. Public servants who were injured or died during service were also given a 10 year salary. All these pension benefits were given to public servants by the present government.