Budget 2010
Rs 100 b estimated for pensions
‘It was Rs. 20 billion for 2000 and Rs.93
billion for 2009.’ There are some new inputs which had been added to the
pension minute by the Government
Shirley WIJESINGHE
The estimated budget for pensions for 2010 is Rs.100 billion and
there will be no delay in making payments to pensioners numbering
450,000, Director General of Pensions K.A. Thilakaratne said.
It was Rs. 20 billion for 2000 and Rs.93 billion for 2009. he added.
There are some new inputs which had been added to the pension minute by
the present Government aimed at providing more benefits to the public
servants pension.
That is the main reason for the inflated pension bill. We have
absorbed workers in the textile and fruit industry which was under the
public sector to the pension scheme, Thilakaratne said.
He was speaking at the media conference organized to explain the
present progress of the Pensions Department yesterday. “Some delays in
the payment of commuted pension are there. About 1000 applications are
received monthly and are on the waiting list and such payments will be
made on a priority basis when funds are released from the Treasury,
Thilakaratne said.
He said that the Government has already accepted the proposal of
abolishing the pension anomalies as a policy even amidst financial
difficulties faced. |
