Additional Defence Secretary Sunil S. Sirisena last week said that parents of security forces personnel who have laid down their lives for country’s defence will receive 25% of the pension and other allowances will be paid to their widows.

This will be effective from 21 November 2007 Sirisena said. Parents of bachelors who died in action received the full pensions and other allowances.

The parents hitherto receive only a part of the compensation that the wives of the forces personnel were entitled to (Rs. 50,000) and that only if their monthly income was less than Rs. 2,000 he said. "If the widows of forces personnel killed in the war wish to re-marry they are entitled to 10 years pension as a lump sum", he said.

These decisions were taken on the recommendations made by Committee comprising the Tri Services Chiefs, representatives from the Public Administration and Home Affairs Ministry and the Finance and Policy Planning Ministry he said.

Sirisena also said that there was confusion as a result of an oversight where the widows of the fallen soldiers have been paid 25% less than what is due to them as pension but this mistake has been rectified and they receive the next months pension with arrears.