சமீபத்திய செய்திகள் மற்றும் நிகழ்வுகள்

2022.01.19 දිනැති සහ අංක 2263/5 දරණ රජයේ අති විශේෂ ගැසට් පත්‍රය මඟින් විශ්‍රාම වැටුප් ව්‍යවස්ථා සංග්‍රහයේ "2අඅ" සහ "17" වැනි වගන්ති සම්පූර්ණයෙන් ඉවත් කර රාජ්‍ය නිලධාරින් අනිවාර්ය විශ්‍රාම ගැන්වීමේ වයස අවුරුදු 65 දක්වා දීර්ඝ කිරීමට අදාළව විශ්‍රාම වැටුප් ව්‍යවස්ථා සංග්‍රහය තවදුරටත් සංශෝධනය කර ඇත.

First of all I take this opportunity to wish a healthy and prosperous new year to all Sri Lankans including the Pensioners, who are our recipients. We know that the senior citizens are the social group, who were adversely affected and exposed to COVID 19 pandemic. Therefore I take this opportunity to extend my gratitude to all parties who worked shoulder in shoulder to protect them from the pandemic whilst giving them the priority in the vaccination process.

With the arrival of year 2022 the total number of pensioners all over the Island has gone beyond 672000. During the recent five years nearly 157000 persons have joined the pensioners’ community and accordingly the role of the Department of Pensions will be expanded in response to its responsibility. Further the Department is making plans to ensure an excellent service delivery to both present as well as future pensioners, whilst shouldering a huge role in the social protection and the modifications introduced to the Department can be highlighted as the positive results of such forecasts. 

Period from 2021 to 2022 is a challenging time where we have to face various difficulties due to COVID 19 pandemic. Due to the situation arisen in the face of the face of the 3 rd wave of COVID 19 the country was forced to look forward to a lockdown again and this time number of officers of the Department of Pensions were also became the victims of Pandemic. However I as the Director General of Pensions enjoy the humble satisfaction as my Department could make utmost dedication during this critical period to pay the pension to pensioners without even a delay of a single day. Therefor all the officers working in the Department and working as in charge of the subject of pension attached to the District Secretaries and Divisional Secretariats deserve boundless commendation and I take this opportunity to give them big thank for their commitment.

The number of the adult population is due to mark a rapid increase in future as a result of the increase in the life expectance of Sri Lankan citizen. Comparatively to such growth the participation of youths in labor force will mark a decline. Having taken into consideration this situation, the Government took action to extend the age of retirement with the expectation to ensure contribution of the elderly community in labor force and it can be praised as an important and timely policy taken during last year.  Therefore present public servant has now given an opportunity to spend more time in public service ensuring a productive service delivery. You, who are now reaching retirement age, can offer your skills, labor as well as time for the wellbeing of the state. We should not pay any attention further to the opinions of various parties that reaching the age of retirement is becoming vulnerable in the society.

The growth in savings and investment makes a direct effect for the development of a country. You have now capability to be a partner in the process for strengthening the economy of the country whilst securing your personal life.

Therefore I earnestly request you to provide your skills, knowledge and practice for the social and economic development at this juncture, where the country is facing a temporary crisis, making the dawn of New Year a bright light for you and your country. 

Wish you again a healthy and prosperous New Year.

Department of Pensions commenced its functions on 03.01.2022 giving oath to be committed to make a Vistas of prosperity and splendor a reality , which provides road map for the establishment of a people centered economy with environmental management through sustainable physical resources development  whilst  creating  a well-disciplined, law abiding, healthy  and excellent society.

Accordingly national flag was hoisted following all health measures prescribed due to COVID 19 and then all the war veterans including all veterans sacrificed their lives for the country was commemorated. Official functions were commenced with pirith chanting and Buddhist religious observances,  and the Director General of Pensions, whilst recalling the challenges brought by year 2020 and 2021, has extended his gratitude to all the officers serving attached to Divisional Secretariats in charge of the subject of pensions and all officers of the Department for their dedication to carry out functions of the Department amidst the critical situation prevailed.

Main objective of the Department of Pension is to ensure the pension to the pensioners and their beneficiaries in an efficient and effective manner. Therefore Director General has stated especially that the functions of New Year should also be commenced   with the courage and determination shown in the previous period, where the pensioners were paid their pension without any delay even under the grave challenges.

This occasion was marked with the participation of Mr. A. Jagath D. Dias, Director General of Pensions, Mr. D.M.P.Jayawardana, and Additional Director General of Pensions, Mr.A.D.T.N.Abeysingha, Chief Accountant, Mr. Edward Perera, and Consultant in the Information and Technology Division, staff officers and other officers of the Department.