Bouquets to a caring President

Regular readers of the popular and widely read daily newspapers would have come across my untiring efforts (through the print media) to have pension receipt restored. At least I have met with spectacular success. Credit also certainly goes to the helpful Editors who willingly allotted valuable space in their journals far too often.

Let me relate! I addressed a letter personally to the President on the 12th January 2007, on the subject of restoration of the pension receipt, the withdrawal of which was inexplicable in logic and common sense. I also made it a point to attach some newspaper clippings authored by my humble self plus several other scribblers. They were copies to the ebullient and ever obliging Secretary to the President, Lalith Weeratunga. Thank God.

Lo and behold! Finally saner counsel prevailed and I received a reply dated February 05, 2007 (which I received on 14.02.2007). My humble request has been granted which undoubtedly is a sagacious act.

His letter addressed to the Secretary, Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs (Reference PA/5/2/1/2 and dated February 05, 2007) stated inter alia (with copies to the Director of Pensions and me) "Therefor he has requested to restore the issue of monthly pension receipt to the pensioners for them to verify their regular deductions.

Your kind attention is drawn to the matters pointed out by Nanda Nanaykkara and make necessary arrangements to meet his request."

Being capable of sifting right from wrong, the good samaritan has empathised with his aged and decrepit compatriots in their deepest longings. This is certainly not the only single occasion.

I remember the vivacious erudite scholar and personality Amaranath Paul of Athurugiriya expressing his gratitude to the morally courageous gentleman Mr. Lalith Weeratunga also the then Secretary to the President or may be the then Prime Minister.

His letter appeared in The Island itself sometime ago, and it promoted me to recourse to same manner of presenting my grievance for redress.

Dear Sir, please count me also as one (among many) who is ever grateful to you and offering this fragrant bouquet for the meritorious deed. You have certainly solved a recurring perennial problem which affected the aged and hapless compatriots who had to trek to the Divisional Secretariat to find the details in regard to the payments and deductions of pensions.

In the alternative one had to often visit the offices of the G.O.B.A. and the P. S. M. P. A. on pain of losing the donation after demise. You have certainly given us deliverance for which act of kindness we pray for your eternal well being.

Nanda Nanayakkara, Panadura.