Chief Government Whip and Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardene told the Parliament that the officers and soldiers of the three Armed Forces had been paid 65 percent of their pension and this had now been increased to 85 percent.
This increment was granted in accordance with the pledge made in the "Mahinda Chinthana" manifesto. The relevant circular to increase the percentage of pension payments was released on July 16, 2010.