Retired public officers protest against delay in hiking pensions

COLOMBO (News1st) : Retired public officers on Tuesday staged islandwide protests citing delays in increasing their pensions, as promised by the former government. The previous government, that came into power in 2015, had implemented a plan to hike pensions upto at least Rs 60,000 gradually between 2016 and 2020. However, the current government, that came into power after the presidential election in November last year, suspended the increment through a cabinet paper on January 2 this year. "It is sad to observe that it has been more than six months and the government has failed to provide a feasible solution to this," Mahinda Jayasinghe, the Convenor of the Organization to Protect the Rights of Pensioners said. Protests were held near the Gampaha Railway Station, the Kurunegala Clock Tower, Matara Bus Stand, the Kalutara Bridge, and George De Silva park in Kandy. "We will continue our struggle until we receive the pensions that are due to all sectors," one protestor remarked. The protestors pointed out that more than 120,000 retired public officers have been affected as a result of this situation.