Pensioners’ salary anomalies to be removed from next month

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera’s proposal in his budget 2019 to remove the pensioners’ salary anomalies will be implemented effective next month, a Finance Ministry statement said.  
Accordingly, over 500,000 public servants who retired before December 31, 2015 will be benefited by the removal of this salary anomaly. 
The monthly salary of public servants who retired before December 31, 2015 will be increased by a minimum of Rs.2,800 and a maximum of Rs.20,000. 
These pensioners will receive this monetary benefit based on the removal of the anomaly that existed in the pension of those who retired before December 2015.
This salary anomaly was created as a result of those who retired before December 31, 2015 and others who retired thereafter were considered under two different circulars. 
Pensions were paid to the public servants who retired before December 31, 2015 under Circular 05/2015 and their counterparts who retired thereafter were paid pensions under Circular 03/2016.
The salary amendments are made systematically until 2020 for the pensioners coming under Circular 03/2016 and their basic salary will be increased by 107 percent in 2020 when compared with that of 2016.
The budget 2019 allocated Rs.12 billion for the removal of the pensioners’ salary anomalies. 
Meanwhile, the Finance Ministry said an interim allowance of Rs.3,500, paid to the pensioners who retired under the Circular 05/2015, until this new salary anomaly was removed will be included to the new salary structure. 
Further, the cost of living allowance of Rs.3, 525 paid at present will be continued to be paid to all pensioners.