Differently abled war heroes to get pension benefits

President Maithripala Sirisena has instructed relevant officials to take steps to provide pension benefits to the differently abled war heroes who volunteered to retire prematurely due to medical reasons. As at present, differently abled War Heroes who have completed 12 years in service and the differently abled war heroes who volunteered to retire before their due retirement day on medical grounds are paid a monthly salary and a disability pension until the age of 55 years.

Differently abled war heroes who volunteered to retire before their due retirement day were not entitled to pension benefits after completion of 12 years service and no government in power drew their attention to this issue. President Maithripala Sirisena, after considering the number of requests made by differently abled war heroes submitted a Cabinet Paper to ensure that these War Heroes receive pension benefits.

These War Heroes will also be entitled to pension benefits as their contemporaries who have completed their service from February next year after the special Cabinet Paper is approved by the Cabinet. A group of differently abled war heroes who have not completed 12 years of service are on a protest campaign opposite the Presidential Secretariat demanding pension benefits. Secretary to the President P.B. Abeykoon and Defence Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi discussed the issue and apprised the government’s position to protesting war heroes.

Arrangements have been also been made through the budget to provide the differently abled war heroes their basic salary and disability pension even after they reach 55 years.