October 12, Colombo (LNW): President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed Finance Ministry officials to take prompt action to provide a monthly interim allowance of Rs. 3,000 to all pensioners starting next week. This directive comes after the delay in including the allowance in the October pensions, as noted during a meeting held on Thursday (10) at the Presidential Secretariat.
Although a circular (No. 02/2024) issued on August 24, 2024, authorized the payment of the Rs. 3,000 monthly allowance to pensioners, funds had not been allocated for this purpose. After reviewing the situation, President Dissanayake ordered that the necessary funds be released to resolve the issue and provide immediate relief to pensioners.
Acknowledging the financial difficulties faced by the government, the President emphasized the need to address the hardship pensioners have experienced due to the delay in payment. Since the October pensions have already been credited without the allowance, the President directed that the Rs. 3,000 be deposited into pensioners’ accounts by next week. From November onward, the allowance will be automatically added to their monthly pension payments.
Present at the meeting were Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Finance Ministry Secretary Mahinda Siriwardena, and several senior officials from the Finance Ministry.
