The service rendered by pensioners has a tremendous impact on the socio-cultural development of the country that we owe our gratitude to them, said the Uva Province Governor M. P. Jayasinghe.
The Governor made these comments participating in the Uva Provincial Pensioners’ Day celebration held under the theme ‘A strength to Retirement’ parallel to the ‘National Pensioners’ Day - 2017’ held at the Moneragala Library auditorium on Sunday.
“The government, with the leadership of President Mathiripala Sirisena, have taken measures to bring relief to the pensioners. The government earmarked Rs. 210 million annually for 595,000 government pensioners,” he said.
The Governor pointed out that the government pays heed to uplift the educational, cultural and social standard of the pensioners’ family as their children should be the key concern of all the leaders of the government. These children are the ones who shoulder future responsibilities and contribute for the development of the country in future, he said.
The Governor also assured the pensioners to put forward their grievances on salary anomalies to the notice of the President.
Director General of Department of Pensions A. Jagath D. Dais said, October 8 is acclaimed as the Pensioners’ Day in honour of their contribution to the social, economical and physical development of the country.
He said the Government Pensioners spent nearly three decades of their valuable life for the sustainable development of the country in spite of inevitable hardships, so it is the duty of the government to show gratitude towards them who deserve the nation’s salute.
“ Under the theme of ‘A Strength to Retirement,’ arrangements have been made to celebrate this day island-wide on a provincial level, paving the way for many pensioners to participate in provincial-level meetings” he said.
The Director General said, at present, technology is incorporated to provide efficient and accurate service to all pensioners as it is the key role of the department.
He said, in view of appeasing the minds of pensioners, the government along with other private institutes, take measures to provide loan facilities, issuance, economical counseling and communication facilities to the pensioners.
Uva Provincial Council Chief Minister Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, Uva Provincial Council Member Kudabandara Medawela, Moneragala District Secretary D. S. Padmakulasuriya and Badulla District Secretary Nimal Abeysiri also spoke.
Moneragala Additional District Secretary, Assistant District Secretary, Divisional Secretaries of Madulla, Moneragala, Bibile, Wellawaya, Buttala, Kataragama, Thanamalwila and pensioners from Badulla and Moneragala districts and other dignitaries also participated.
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