Public service and pension rights will be protected: President
Saturday, 11 October 2014 00:38
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President Mahinda Raja-paksa said the Government would continue to protect and sustain the public service and protect the public servant’s pension rights.
Addressing a meeting to distribute motorcycles to field officers in Kandy District at the Gatambe Stadium, the President pointed out that the UNP Government that came to power in 2001 did not have any regard for the public service and it was reduced from 700,000 to mere 300,000. The UNP also took steps to abolish the pension scheme, he said.
“Since 2005, our Government increased the number of public sector employees to 1.5 million,” the President said. “We work with fullest confidence in the public service. We are also totally committed to safeguard pension rights of the employees. Those who receive motorcycles today will also retire from Government service one day and we are protecting your pension rights as well as the pension rights of those who join the public service in future,” he said. The President recalled that during the colonial rule only the European employees received pensions and the leftists leaders struggled to win pension rights for the Sri Lankan public servants. He said that under Mrs Sirimavao Bandaranaike’s leadership, as a young MP, he too worked hard to get pension rights for the workers.
Speaking at the function, Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake said those who are not aware of mathematics say President Rajapaksa cannot contest for a third term and that Rajapaksa could win presidential elections any number of times. Central Province Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa, Minis-ters Keheliya Rambukwella, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Deputy Minister Earl Gunasekera and MPs Lohan Ratwatte and Dimuth Amunugama also attended the function.
