The Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration has issued a circular on the 29th to recover money for the Agrahara Insurance Scheme from the pensions of public servants.
It was proposed to recover this amount from all public servants who retired before January 1, 2016. It stated that a sum of Rs.600 would be charged from the salary of a pensioner over 70 years of age and Rs.400 from the salary of a pensioner under 70 years of age for this insurance.
Retirees who do not agree to be deducted from their salary under the insurance scheme should inform the Director General of Pensions in writing within two weeks from the date of issuance of this circular.
The government’s decision has already been opposed by public service retirees’ associations. They point out that the Secretary to the Ministry does not have the power to extort money from retirees in such an arbitrary manner.
Executive Member, All Ceylon Public Service Retirees United National Organization, S.N.B.K Karunaratne says that the average charge is Rs.200 and only Agrahara insurance was requested for that amount. But now the government is preparing to change it from the new circular and charge arbitrarily and that the divisional associations are already charging Rs.100. He says that the government should pay as usual.
He points out that the most implicit suggestion in here is, if not notified within two weeks action will be taken to deduct money from the salary as per consent. He further says that this is an injustice done to retirees.