Letters to the Editor
View(s):At receiving end of unhelpful system to get promised Rs. 5000 increase in pensions
My wife and I are government pensioners. I retired in 1981 and my wife in 1996. Since then our pensions are credited to a joint account in a certain bank. As there have been disputes in the families when it is credited to the same account which is understood, we had given individual letters with a request to credit our pensions to the same account which is done even now.
The Rs. 5000 increase in pensions by the state has not been paid to us even in March it was revealed when I visited the Divisional Secretary’s office at Rajagiriya.
When I inquired about this from a lady in the Pensions Payment section, I was told that we have to open individual accounts to have the Rs. 5000 credited. I told her our pensions are being credited to the joint account even now so why could not the Rs. 5000 be credited the same way. She said they just cannot do it.
We cannot understand why the system is so lethargic, unhelpful and unfriendly to the public.
There are pensioners who are feeble and helpless who do not have the support of others. Is it that they will never get the increase? On my way out I heard several pensioners confused and complaining about the sad situation.
If there is a regulation from the Director of Pensions to this effect it should be rectified immediately or the discretion should lie with the Divisional Secretary to decide on a case by case basis.
D. Wijesinghe Via email
Nothing can be done over illegal retention wall that poses danger to many
One of my neighbour’s houses is situated just behind my house at a higher level than mine. He had built a long eight-foot high retention wall right round his house overnight. This is an unauthorised and illegal massive retention wall. It poses a great danger to my house as well as to the neighbouring residents. The lives of my family and the lives of neighbouring residents will be in great danger, if it collapses.
I immediately brought this matter to the notice of the Municipal Commissioner of Kandy. The Commissioner acted promptly and sent an Emergency Accident Inquiring Team comprising a supervisor, police constable, three more officers and two labourers. The team members inspected the retention wall and accepted that it is a danger to the lives and buildings of all the neighbours living around.
By the time this team arrived, this illegal construction had been completed. The team said that once the construction is completed, they are unable to take any action. However, they said that they would hand over their report to the Commissioner and to the Technical Officer to assess the situation.
The people who resort to this type of illegal construction complete the job overnight. Even if it is completed, there should be a way of taking action to demolish the retention wall, to save the lives of the residents.
Over to you Minister of Local Govt. and Mayor of Kandy Municipal Council.
Worried resident Via email
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