2023-11-30
News Categories : Committee News
The Committee on Ways and Means recommended to the Department of Pensions to introduce a formula for raising the pensions in proportion to the existing cost of living index in a humanitarian manner. This was stated when the Committee met in Parliament on 29.11.2023 under the Chairmanship of Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka, Member of Parliament.
Officials of government institutions such as the Department of Pensions, National Secretariat for Elders, and representatives of pensioners' associations were called for this meeting.
The department disclosed that more than 700,000 active pensioners are currently registered in the Department of Pensions, and it was disclosed that some people are not active due to reasons such as investigations, deaths, etc.
It was disclosed that about 26,000 retirees (19,000 civil, 7,000 armed forces) join active status every year, and about 20,000 are removed from the retired list due to death. It was reported that Rs. 413 billion has been earmarked for the Department of Pensions for a month, and 24 times the required pension will be paid as gratuity for those retiring at the age of 55, which will be deducted from the pension within 10 years.
The role of the National Secretariat for Elders is to provide a monthly allowance of 2000 rupees to low-income earners over 70 years of age, whose monthly income is less than 6000 rupees, and on the certificate of the Grama Niladhari, 733,204 elderly allowances are currently being paid, the officials of that institution said. The Committee Chair instructed the officials of the National Secretariat for Elders to provide the Committee with statistics on the number of people who join the list of elderly allowance payers, the number of people who leave due to death, and the number of elderly people on the waiting list.
It was discussed that the increase in wages for public servants with effect from 01.01.2016 was implemented under 5 phases till 01.01.2020, and that those who retired after 01.01.2020 will receive the full pension adjusted according to the increase in salary, which has resulted in a huge pension disparity between those who retired before 2017 and those who retired after 2020. The decision taken by the Council of Ministers to suspend the pension increase due on 01.01.2020 was a cause and additionally due to the salary increase for teacher principals in 2021, a severe pension discrepancy has arisen for those who retired before 01/01/2017 was mentioned. Moreover, although government employees were given a salary increase of Rs. 10,000 with effect from 01/01/2024, the allowance of pensioners has been increased only by Rs.2500/- and considering the salary increase, the pension has only increased by 25% and given the increase is not sufficient in view of the increase in the cost of living, the pensioners stated before the Committee. The Chair recommended to introduce a formula for the purpose of increasing the pension in proportion to the existing cost of living index in a humanitarian manner.
The benefits of the Agrahara insurance scheme are available to those who retired after 01.01.2016, and those who retired before that date should also be extended the insurance scheme in such a way that they get the same benefits. Thereby, the necessity of providing hospitalization allowances, surgery allowances, death gratuity allowances etc. to those who retired before the relevant date was emphasized on the part of the pensioners. The Committee Chair instructed to look into the possibility of providing the benefits of Agrahara Insurance Scheme to those who retired before 01.01.2016.
Committee Chair Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka instructed the officials to appoint an authorized representative of the Department of Pensions to discuss the issues faced by the pensioners and to make arrangements to hold the initial discussion between the representatives of the pensioners' associations and the authorized officer on December 15 at 9.00 am.
It was emphasized here that those who receive senior citizens allowance and persons with disabilities should be included in the list of those who should receive social benefits (social registry). The need for setting up a digital system that can quickly update the deaths of pensioners was also emphasized as there is a significant impact on the payment of pensions.
State Ministers Hon. Lasantha Alagiyawanna and Hon. Anuradha Jayaratne, and Members of Parliament Hon. W. D. J. Seneviratne and Hon. Nalaka Bandara Kottegoda were present at this Committee meeting held.
2025-10-16
October is recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It has been decided to hold a debate in Parliament and to have women MPs dress in pink in support of the program. Every year, October is considered as the Global Breast Cancer Awareness Month or “Pink Month” and in line with this, a special awareness session on breast cancer prevention and related programs was held recently (Oct. 09) in Parliament for the Women Parliamentarians' Caucus. This meeting was held under the patronage of Hon. Member of Parliament Samanmali Gunasingha, who was temporarily appointed as Chairperson of the Caucus due to the overseas engagement of the Caucus Chairperson, Hon. Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj. At the session, the Director of the National Cancer Control Program, along with other medical professionals, briefed the Women Parliamentarians' Caucus on breast cancer prevention. They highlighted that breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. In Sri Lanka, approximately 15 new cases are diagnosed daily, with about 3 deaths occurring each day. The doctors emphasized that early detection and treatment of breast cancer can lead to a cure and stressed the importance of breast self-examination (BSE) in addition to medical screenings. It was also revealed that awareness programs have started at the school level in Sri Lanka. Under the initiative called “Pink Wednesday,” a program to increase breast cancer awareness was launched for the first time at Colombo Musaeus College with support from various organizations. Accordingly, students at the school wear pink ties on the first Wednesday of every month in support of this program. The members stressed the need to expand this awareness and the programs throughout the country. Furthermore, it was decided that in the next parliamentary week, on a selected day, all MPs and parliamentary staff will wear pink to support the program. They also agreed to request to grant a debate on this matter in Parliament. It was also decided to send a letter to the Ministry of Education, requesting all schools to raise awareness on this issue among students during their morning assemblies. Additionally, the Caucus decided to conduct an awareness program on breast cancer prevention for the parliamentary staff. Members of the Caucus, Hon. Deputy Minister Dr. Kaushalya Ariyaratne, Hon. Members of Parliament Krishnan Kalaichelvi, Attorney at Law Nilanthi Kottahachchi, Chathuri Gangani, Attorney at Law Thushari Jayasinghe and a group of doctors including the Director of the National Cancer Prevention Program, participated in this session.
2025-10-16
As of 30.09.2025, the expected tax revenue was Rs. 1,610,599 million and accordingly Rs. 1,641,997 million has been earned (102 percent), officials of the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) recently informed the Committee on Ways and Means. It was revealed that out of the total tax revenue target of Rs. 2,195,220 million for the year 2025, Rs. 1,641,997 million has been achieved so far, which is 75%. These matters were revealed when the Committee on Ways and Means met in Parliament on 08.10.2025 under the chairmanship of, Hon. Member of Parliament Wijesiri Basnayake. During the meeting, this year's tax revenue targets and revenue growth were discussed at length compared to previous years. Attention was also drawn to the plans and challenges for increasing tax revenue, including digitalization, and tax management. Accordingly, the Committee Chairman informed the officers to provide the Committee with proposals related to the reforms expected from the Inland Revenue Department. A group of Members representing the Committee on Ways and Means and a group of senior officers including the Commissioner General of the Inland Revenue Department, Mrs. R.P.H. Fernando, were present at this Committee meeting.
2025-10-16
Officials of the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation informed the Ministerial Consultative Committee that currently, more than 300,000 driver’s licenses are pending issuance, and arrangements have been made to print and distribute them within the next three months. They further stated that a new driver’s license with enhanced security features will also be printed and issued within this year. Additionally, all necessary arrangements have been completed to procure one million cards required for the printing of driver’s licenses, according to the officials who briefed the committee. These remarks were made during the meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation, held in Parliament on the Oct. 9th, under the chairmanship of Bimal Rathnayake, Hon. Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation. Addressing the committee, the Chair instructed officials to install printing machines in every province to expedite the issuance of pending driver’s licenses. The Chair also inquired from officials regarding the issuance of vehicle number plates. In response, officials informed the committee that the process of selecting a supplier is currently underway, and following Cabinet approval, the process will be completed, allowing for the commencement of number plate issuance. Furthermore, the committee discussed the integrated passenger transport timetable currently in operation. The Chair stated that as the integrated timetable is a policy initiative, steps will be taken to identify shortcomings and expand it to more regions in the future to provide a more efficient service to passengers. The Chair also presented details regarding a pilot project aimed at reducing train accidents involving elephants. It was revealed that Rs. 2.8 million will be spent to install long-range surveillance cameras on trains operating on the Madakalapuwa (Batticaloa) line to monitor and minimize elephant-train collisions. The committee also held extensive discussions regarding issues faced in the constituencies of Members of Parliament and possible solutions to those problems. The meeting was attended by Ministers, State Ministers, Members of Parliament, and other officials.
2025-10-16
The Committee on High Posts, which met on 08th October at Parliament approved the appointments of 3 Ministry secretaries. Accordingly, the appointments of Mr. D.W.R.B. Seneviratne as the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. S. Alokabandara as the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government and Dr. B.K.K.K. Jinadasa as the Secretary to the Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources were approved by the Committee on High Posts. The committee was chaired by Hon. Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and several members of this committee participated in the meeting.
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