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.
2025-11-21
Hon. Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Saroja Savithri Paulraj stated that creating a society with an elevated mindset capable of serving humanity as human beings is the objective of the politics of the government. The Hon.Minister made these remarks during a meeting with representatives of the Eastern Social Development Foundation. She made these remarks on the occasion of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus in Parliament held in Parliament recently, (Nov. 17) to discuss improving the political inclusion of women’s groups who do not have representation in local politics. Attention of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus was also drawn to further expanding the possibility of obtaining nominations in a manner that represents special population groups living in the country. Furthermore, activities and the future work plan to be carried out under the leadership of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus to support the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) from November 25 to December 10 were also discussed with representatives of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Members of the Caucus Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees Hemali Weerasekara, Samanmali Gunasingha, Krishnan Kalaichelvi, A.M.M.M. Rathwaththe, Hiruni Wijesinghe, Attorney at Law, Hasara Liyanage, Attorney at Law, Lakmali Hemachandra, Attorney at Law, Geetha Herath, Attorney at Law, and Thushari Jayasingha, Attorney at Law were present at this meeting held.
2025-11-20
The Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government was recently summoned to the Committee Appointed to Review Non-implementation of the Recommendations of the Parliamentary Committees to inquire into the delays in implementing the recommendations made by the Committee on Public Petitions of Parliament. This matter was considered when the above committee met in Parliament on the Nov. 13th under the chairmanship of Hon. Minister Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law. Accordingly, the officials presented at the committee pointed out the practical problems that exist in implementing some of the said recommendations. The Committee was also informed that steps have already been taken to implement some of the recommendations. However, it was decided that the petitioner's views should also be sought regarding the problems arising in the implementation of certain recommendations, and accordingly, it was decided to summon the petitioners to the Committee on another date. The meeting was attended by the Hon. Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala, Attorney-at-Law, Hon. Members of Parliament Ravi Karunanayake, Ajith P. Perera, Attorney-at-Law, and Oshani Umanga
2025-11-20
The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability has drawn attention to the importance of accurately surveying and swiftly completing the mapping of all land in Sri Lanka. This matter was discussed when the Committee met on the Nov. 17th in Parliament, under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament Hector Appuhamy, to review the annual reports and annual performance reports of several State corporations, departments, commissions, and boards for the years 2021, 2022, and 2023. During the meeting, officials from the Survey Department informed the Committee that, as estimated, Sri Lanka has approximately 16.5 million land parcels, of which only about 2.5 million have been surveyed and mapped. Emphasizing the importance of completing the surveying and mapping of the remaining land parcels as soon as possible, the Committee Chairman stated that all relevant parties would be summoned before the Committee to discuss the necessary actions and the future work plan. The Committee also reviewed the annual reports of the Land Reform Commission for the years 2022 and 2023. In addition, the Committee held extensive discussions regarding the revenue loss caused by the Land Reform Commission granting land without entering into legally valid agreements. The Committee Chairman emphasized the importance of issuing land under proper lease agreements in the future and instructed officials to formulate a mechanism to recover the outstanding lease payments and present a comprehensive report on all arrears to the Committee. The meeting was attended by Hon. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, and Committee Members Hon. MPs Gnanamuttu Srineshan, Susanta Kumara Navaratna, Sudath Balagalla, and Attorney-at-Law Bhagya Sri Herath.
2025-11-19
The Social Security Contribution Levy (Amendment) and Betting and Gaming Levy (Amendment) Bills were approved by the Committee on Public Finance. This approval was given at the meeting of the Committee on Public Finance, chaired by Hon. Dr. Harsha de Silva, held in Parliament on the Nov. 17th. Officials who attended pointed out that the Social Security Contribution Levy (Amendment) Bill introduces four amendments to the Social Security Contribution Levy Act No. 25 of 2022. After an extensive discussion, the Committee granted its approval. In addition, the Betting and Gaming Levy (Amendment) Bill will amend the Betting and Gaming Levy Act No. 40 of 1988. Through these amendments, the gross collection levy will be increased from 15% to 18%, and the casino entrance levy imposed on Sri Lankan citizens will be increased from USD 50 to USD 100. After reviewing these proposals, the Committee granted approval. Further, approval was also given for a regulation issued under the Finance Act No. 11 of 2004, which extends the validity period for the payment of the International Telecommunication Operators’ Levy. Additionally, the Committee reviewed the Rules regarding Exercise License Fee under Section 32, read with Section 25 of the Excise Ordinance (Chapter 52). However, approval was not granted for these rules. The Chair of the Committee instructed that a proper analysis be provided to the Committee, after which the matter will be reconsidered. The meeting was attended by Hon. Deputy Ministers Dr. Kaushalya Ariyaratne, Nishantha Jayaweera, Hon. Members of Parliament Ravi Karunanayake, Attorney-at-Law Chitral Fernando, and Attorney-at-Law Lakmali Hemachandra.
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