PM pledges to modernise pension scheme for public servants

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, yesterday (Oct 8), pledged to assist the private sector with Rs 500 billion to support the export economy, while seeking to modernise the pension scheme for public servants in the country.

“The country’s pension scheme system can be revived by increasing the country’s economic growth upto 7.5 percent,” the Prime Minister said at an event held to mark National Pensioners Day at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre in Colombo.

He explained that the country could generate more income through exports and that strengthening the private sector would contribute towards achieving this target. “This country can be developed using the surplus income earned through exports,” Mr. Wickremesinghe observed.

He said the current government respects the services of public servants and has twice resolved anomalies in the pensions of retired workers during their rule despite the massive debt owed by the country.

We could not obtain loans since the international community had lost faith in the country,” Mr. Wickremesinghe recalled.

However, he pointed out that 85 percent of the problems related to the pensions of retired public servants had been resolved through the proposals set out in the 2015 and 2019 annual budgets.

"I wouldn't say that we have managed to resolve most problems in the country. However, we have resolved a majority of these problems," the Prime Minister remarked.