Is this how a senior citizen should be treated at a leading state institute?

My EPF monies were due to me from a court case I had filed around two or three years ago - the Labour Tribunal awarded that I should be paid all my dues.

I checked subsequently with the Central Bank and my monies were duly credited to my account.

Unfortunately I lost my wallet whilst travelling in the bus on the Dehiwela/Maharagama route last week, along with it my National Identity card and driver’s licence.

Since I did not have a Grama Sevaka attestation on my K Form for the claim, I obtained an affidavit from a JP and visited the 3rd floor to meet the Commissioner General. It was a Monday (Public Day) at 8.30 a.m. No one else was there.

A gentleman in tie came out and very politely asked how he could help me. I told him the story. I was in slippers with a wound on my toe. He said he would call the Commissioner EPF who was on the 8th floor.

But when I went to meet him, the first question was ‘Who told you to go to the 3rd floor?’ He did not even want to listen to my story. He told me to go and bring my ID. I said I had only a Police report as I had lost it. He said he was not interested. I said I have a copy of the ID. He then said ‘Bring your Passport.’ When I replied that it had expired last month, he said ‘Then you renew it and come.’ I was dumbfounded. He said ‘Next time you come to me with your new ID.’

He also commented, ‘How come you were not paid EPF since you were GM.’That was not his business.

He did not respect my age leave alone treat me with any courtesy. With disappointment I walked out and went back to the 3rd floor and asked the clerk who the gentleman who had spoken to me very kindly was. He said he was the Additional Commissioner General. He was not in.

I called him subsequently and related the story. He said ‘Don’t worry, fax me your ID copy - I will get it approved by the Commissioner General.’

Subsequently I handed the copy to him and he called me two days later and asked me to bring a copy of my birth certificate.

I was very disturbed as to how I as a senior citizen was treated.