Even the dead draw pensions !

by S.M. Wijayaratne, Kurunegala Corr.

The Department of Pensions loses nearly Rs 300 million annually due to the fraudulent activities in the Pensions Department. Three percent of the total amount of money allocated for paying pensions is lost annually, the Department a spokesman said. The Director General of Pensions Sunil Hettiarachchi is of the view that majority of these frauds are committed by way of obtaining the pensions of dead persons illegally.

This is due to the fact that the information and data of dead pensioners are not properly updated and there is no proper strategy implemented in that regard so far.

However, the top officials of the government will take measures in due course to rectify this said D.M. Somapala, the President of Kurunegala District Govt. Pensioners' Association speaking at a meeting of Govt. pensioners held in Bingiriya, Kurunegala.