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Today is National Pensioners' Day
The 8th of October is designated to honour retired government employees. This day recognizes those who devoted their vibrant and dynamic youth to the advancement of the nation, celebrating them with great pride and profound respect.
The invaluable contributions of those who formed the backbone of the country's workforce must always be acknowledged. It is our duty as a department to guarantee a fulfilling retirement for them by addressing their social, economic, health, and spiritual needs, bestowing greatest honour upon retired government employees.
National Pensioners'Day Greeting Message from the Director General of the Department of Pensions
The Pension Department was founded in 1970 as an "A" Grade Department responsible for disbursing pensions to Central Government employees, Provincial Public Services, Armed Forces personnel, and Judicial Officers.
The extensive mandate of the Department of Pensions guarantees social security benefits for a substantial segment of the population. The department administers various forms of pensions, including Pensions, Widow's Pensions, Male Widow's Pensions, Orphan's Pensions, Disabled Orphan's Pension, Military and Armed Services Pensions, compensation, one-time gratuity, death gratuity, and gratuity for government employees.
National Pensioners'Day Greeting Message from the Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, State Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils Local Government and Labour
The advancement of Sri Lanka's national retirement policy, which serves not only the retiring government officer but also their beneficiaries, represents a significant accomplishment for the nation.The advancement of Sri Lanka's national retirement policy, which serves not only the retiring government officer but also their beneficiaries, represents a significant accomplishment for the nation.
The Justice, Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils, Local Government, and Labour Ministry is tasked not only with ensuring the prompt disbursement of pension benefits but also with creating all necessary conditions for pensioners to engage as active social contributors and esteemed members of society.
The Department of Pension, as part of the government institutions under this ministry, consistently integrates digital technology and adapts to social changes. Its initiatives aimed at streamlining the pension payment system deserve recognition.It is my belief that achieving efficiency in public service is not solely an objective in itself; rather, it also represents a respectful acknowledgment of the retired community within this the country.
We are dedicated to enhancing the stability of the National Pension System and safeguarding pension entitlements.We emphasize our commitment to improving the stability of the National Pension System and protecting pension rights. On this occasion of National Pensioners' Day, I extend my best wishes to the entire retired community for a healthy and fulfilling retirement.
S Aloka Bandara
SecretaryMinistry of Justice, Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils, Local Government, and Labour
The 'National Pensioner’s Day' message by the Hon. Prime Minister of Sri Lanka and Minister of Justice, Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils, Local Government and Labour Mrs. Harini Amarasuriya
The day of the respected Retired Senior Citizens that commemorate the contribution made to the government service by being a part of the labor force, which is the lifeblood of the country, falls today. 'National Retirement Day' is just a symbolic tribute to their decades of service. Empowering their elderly life economically and socially is the highest tribute that can be given as a developed nation.
It is our absolute responsibility to provide space for you, retired senior citizens, not only to be an economically and socially strong citizen, but also to live as a healthy, spiritually perfect, and advanced cultural citizen.
In the new government's vision of a safe society and a prosperous nation, the national pension policies will be maintained sustainably and continuously, and in the future a pension will be provided to all with contributions from the formal and informal sectors within the existing institutional framework of a broad policy.
So far, the collective of active pensioners who have completed their mission has exceeded 720,000. In the year 2024, the government has allocated more than Rs. 434 billion for the payment of pension.
It is our objective to improve the elderly life of every citizen of this country in all spiritual, social and economic aspects. With that objective brought forward, in creating a comprehensive social security program where every citizen is entitled to a pension, you will undoubtedly be a part thereof.
It is our aspiration to witness that you contribute to the social progress as an active citizen by passing on the wealth of experience, practice and good attitudes developed throughout the lifetime to the next generation of the country.
I wish you all a happy and free retired life.
Prime Minister
Harini Amarasuriya
Minister of Justice, Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils, Local Government and Labour
New Year Message of the Director General of Pensions
The month of April, as we Sri Lankan call Bak Masaya marks the commencement of the season, which enriches our life with happiness, peace and love. Sinhala and Hindu new year brings dawn with the month of April, and it is a real blessing for us, who are divided in race, religion, post, economic and social conditions as well as in geographical boundaries. In the meantime it is the symbol of unity and harmony.
Base of Sinhala and Hindu new tear is the auspicious time and it means working on time. Therefore we are keen in following all traditions such as eating, commencing work and leaving home for duty on the auspicious time. Every work that is commenced with a good intention has every possibility to gain the success and therefore every activity of New Year is based on that thinking and further above all, that intension paves the way for the auspicious time.
Despite the arguments on the auspicious times followed by us for a long time, I am of the view that it is worth to respect the traditions with a positive mind during the period which mark the transition of Sun from Meena rashi to Mesha rashi. The responsibility of the grownups of the society is to present their next generations these hidden realities of Sinhala and Hindu New Year celebrations transferring cultural values respected for a long time. Therefore, you, the seniors of the pensioners’ community, who are now celebrating this important cultural event with your sons, daughters and grandchildren, should be the leading figures in transferring these cultural values.
It is great a pleasure to inform that the cost of living allowance increased by the budget proposals -2024 has been included in your pension of April. Accordingly now the pensioners are receiving an amount of Rs. 2500 as the cost of living allowance increased as per the percentage of cost of living allowance entitled to them. However I should say that we are fully aware of the grievance of the pensioner’s community that their cost of living allowance is no way sufficient and further their pain for not paying the allowance from January 2024. Therefore we request you not to give up your hopes but to wait with a positive mind for the dialogue, which is being now carried out among Pensioners representing Pensioners’ Associations, Government and Department of Pensions.
In the meantime I take this opportunity to wish the pensioners community of more than 7, 10,000, officers of the Department of Pensions and officers serving at the Divisional Secretariats attached to Department of Pensions all over the Island and all Sri Lankans a happy Sinhala and Hindu New Year, which brings peace, harmony, and good health.
A Jagath D Dias,
Director General of Pensions
New Secretary, Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government visit the Department of Pensions
Mr. Pradeep Ysarathna , new Seceretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government, visited the Department of Pensions, which manages the payment of pensions of whole the pensioners' community under the Ministry, today (07.03.2024) to supervise its functions.
During his visit the Secretary inspected the pension application and then observed the functions of all the divisions including Decentralized Division, by which the first pension is activated, information Technology Division, Widows' and Orphans' Division, Foreign Pension Division, Policy Division, Contributions Divisions, Internal Audit Division, Armed Forces Division, Accounts Division and 1970 Hot line Service.
He stated that he would take prompt action to solve the issues of pensioners joining with the Department of Pensions as he has a wide understanding on the problems of pensioners as a result of working very closely with the Department for a number of years in the past.
In the meantime, he appreciated the organization structure of the Department, which has been arranged to maintain pension process, the largest social security system of the Island. Further he expressed his commendation to the whole staff including Mr. A Jagath D Dias, Director General of Pensions for the services delivered efficiently and in an well organized manner to ensure the welfare of pensioners' community.
Department of Pensions commences its works following the traditions of Sinhala and Tamil new year
Officers of the Department of Pensions have made arrangements to commence its functions today , the first working day after celebrating the traditions of Sinhala and Tamil new year. During the function, Mr. A jagath D Dias, Director General of Pensions extended his new year greetings to the pensionsers community of over 710,000 including officers working attached to the Head Office of the Department of Pensions, officers working attached to Divisional Secretariats all over the Island.
He further extended his gratitude to the officers who shoulder huge responsibilities behind the screen to assure pension benefits to all the officers retire from public service and their heirs applying the modern information and communication technology. In the meantime he pointed out the fact that the commitment of all staff is highly necessary to build a well secured pension scheme with the new year by way of finding solutions for the crisis faced by pensioners as the Department had successfully faced with challenges during the recent past for the maintenance of pension scheme.
The programme, which is carried out every as per the concept introduced by the Director General to appreciate the employees of cleaning service, has also been conducted to give due recognition to them for their commitment to maintain the cleanliness internal and outside environment.
The Director General, Mrs. Sujani Peththawadu, Additional Director of Pensions and all the officers have participated in the event. This short celebration, which was held whilst providing services to the pensioners, who have come for the interview, conducted at Sathkara Piyasa for activating pension and for various other matters, was followed by a traditional sweetmeat table arranged by the Welfare Society of the Department and officers and the recipients of the Department have joined with this happy moment.
Officers of Naval and Maritime Academy, Trincomalee are at the Department of Pensions on a study tour
A group of officers from Naval and Maritime Academy, Trincomalee came to the Department of Pensions on a study tour on 14.12.2023 to have an understanding on the functions of the Department, which pays the pension and other relevant payments of the workforce of all armed forces including Sri Lanka Army, Navy, Air Force. During this visit they were made aware of the methodology followed to calculate the benefits paid to the officers of armed forces and their dependants. In the meantime they were given opportunity to have a picture on the widows' and orphans' pensions schemes and also to visit the divisions of the Department, which shoulder different tasks of the Department. The group of consisted of 47 officers.