Govt to go ahead with Rs 3000 special allowance for pensioners despite objections raised by EC

The government has decided to go ahead with the payment of Rs 3000 as an interim special allowance to all government pensioners despite objections raised by the Election Commission to halt it citing Election regulations.

Issuing a circular yesterday, the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs,
Provincial Councils and Local Government said that based on the decision taken by the Cabinet of Ministers on July 24, a special interim allowance of Rs. 3000 will be paid to all government pensioners.

Accordingly, the special allowance will be paid with effect from next month onwards (September) and the circular was issued with the concurrence of the General Treasury as well,  Pradeep Yasarathne, Secretary to the Ministry said. 

Earlier, the Election Commission raised concerns about the move to provide special allowance to pensioners ahead of elections and wrote to the Ministry urging them to halt the move.