Former Member of Parliament for Matale District Mrs. Rohini Kaviratne says in a statement that the loss of the three thousand (LKR.3000) sum that pensioners should be entitled halt of August is a grave injustice done to senior citizens.
Saying, that due to the presidential election, the Election Commission halt August, September and October three months of LKR. 9000 has been lost to the pensioners.
On the day of pension also, the government has not taken steps to pay. If the payment of the amount is suspended until the end of the general election, the pensioners will lose four months’ increased salary (LKR. 12,000).
Moreover, if local government elections are called at the end of the general election, there is a risk that the pensioners will not receive the amount they are entitled to for another three months.
The government is currently continuing the fertilizer subsidy, fuel subsidy, free fertilizer distribution and other relief projects. In spite of this, it is unfortunate that only the meager stipend paid to pensioners has been cut
The judgment of the Supreme Court in Case No. SC/FR/258/2014 (Ministry of Economic Development v. Vasantha Jayalath and others) indicated that relief during an election period can be granted subject to limitations. In spite of this, the Election Commission and the government jointly deprive the pensioners of their right to salary is a great injustice.
