Letters to the editor

In Australia, Sri Lankan pensioners who have migrated to that country are well looked after by that government, which provides free medical aid and various other facilities.

We are, of course, aware that our country not being in a satisfactory financial position cannot afford such facilities as in Australia, due to the large number of pensioners. Yet there may be billions of rupees accrued in the W&OP fund.What we would like to stress is the government’s refusal to refund the contributions made to the W&OP fund, by the pensioners, when they were in service, and who are now widowed pensioners. Some are Octogenarians. The expenditure of these people is high due to medical treatment, extra nourishment and employing a helper etc.
From 1981 I have been making representations to every government that came to power, but every letter sent received a stereotyped reply stating “No provision to refund W&OP contributions.” Should we still be guided by regulations introduced by the then government, when they are detrimental to others?
It is fervently hoped that President Mahinda Rajapaksa will consider this case with sympathy and take action to have these regulations amended and refund the W&OP contributions to the widowed pensioners, with interest as early as possible.