The Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government, Professor Chandana Abeyrathna, revealed that pension arrears and gratuities amounting to approximately Rs. 30 billion remain unpaid, causing significant distress to around 600,000 pensioners.
Some of these arrears date back as far as 1992, reflecting long-standing neglect by successive governments, according to the minister. To address this, he has instructed officials to expedite the settlement process.
Plans are underway to resolve the issue, with discussions involving the Ministry of Finance set to ensure the prompt payment of these outstanding dues. Professor Abeyrathna reaffirmed his commitment to prioritizing the needs of pensioners and resolving the matter efficiently.
