News
15,000 pensioners waiting for their lump sum dues
A retired jailer who worked at the Welikada Prison is among some 15,000 pensioners facing inconveniences due to delays in receiving her gratuity payment after retirement.
Ms. S.A.Premalatha had served 38 years in various prisons including the Jaffna Prison.
“I was there as a jailer of the female LTTE cadres. I worked in Anuradhapura, Jaffna and in all the places affected by the war. I even risked my life in my job.”
A meeting called by the Pensioners’ Association. Pic by Athula Devapriya
Ms. Premalatha retired five months ago expecting that her gratuity would be available soon after retirement so that she can help her children.
She said she had been neglected and sent away from her home because her children do not believe that she was not paid her gratuity.
“This is how the Government repays us for our service,” she said.
There were dozens of similar cases where pensioners have so far not received their gratuity payments despite Government introducing a new payment scheme where pensioners could draw their gratuity payment as a bank loan, instead of the lump sum payment which was made earlier.
A municipal council employee, M.H.M Ansaar said he worked for 22 years and retired last year, but did not believe in the new bank loan process.
“I still have not received any gratuity even after a year. The gratuity could have helped me until I got my pension. The Government is making us debtors by this bank loan gratuity scheme and a burden to our children.
A former Government executive S.T Dissanayake said the gratuity hasn’t been granted to him or any pensioner known to him.
Governmental Services Management Employees Union president U. Palihawdana said the Government was now ‘officially’ cutting pensions by introducing the new payment system.
S.A.Premalatha
Mr. Palihawadana said until now pensioners’ payments were untouched and till now only 50% or 60% of the gratuity payment was deducted, but under the new scheme almost the full amount will be deducted.
M.H.M Ansaar
He said when this becomes a loan it will be subject to bank policies with high rates of interest for some amounts while the gratuity will be deducted in 18 years.
All Ceylon Railway Employees’ Union president S.P. Vithanage said the Government is turning pensioners into debtors.
Mr. Vithanage said the Government is taking 10% off the pension payments using the bank loan procedure.
He said the Government is manipulating people saying those going on pension can choose between the old and new systems, but the old system implemented through the Pensions Director is delayed to convince people to take the alternative.
“From last June the accountants haven’t received their gratuity while there are 15,000 pensioners waiting to receive their gratuity,” Accountants’ Union General Secretary M.D.S Anton Perera said.
Pensions Department Director Sunil Hettiarachchi told the Sunday Times that the new scheme was introduced to expedite payments.
“If the gratuity is taken as a bank loan you could meet me, sign the necessary papers and when you go downstairs you will receive a message on your phone that your gratuity has been remitted to your account,” he said.
M.D.S Anton Perera
He claimed certain parties are portraying the new procedure as a ‘man eating crocodile’ but it is not and it would be a good opportunity to receive money faster.
‘’Government will take care of the papers and will pay the bank the rest of the interest if the pensioner passes away. No pensioner is a debtor. How can he be a debtor if the Government pays the interest,” he said.
He said under the new system the interest will be absorbed by the State and the beneficiary does not have to worry.
He denied that gratuity payments are being deliberately delayed to attract pensioners to the new system.