These days, a large number of letters appear in the newspapers regarding pension anomalies of state employees. Most of these quote page 15 of the ‘Mahinda Chinthanaya’ which among other things, clearly states that steps will be taken to increase pensions on par with salary increases of government servants. It goes on to state that action will be taken to safeguard the dignity of pensioners.

This election promise made prior to the 2005 Presidential Election gave great hopes and expectations to about 500,000 pensioners and 1,500,000 of their dependents. Alas, this has only become a false election promise, despite all the agitations of pensioners.

There is however a last ray of hope for pensioners. The same ‘Chinthanaya’ on page 86 state thus: at every election, politicians present to the voters a whole heap of promises. Although the voters believing these promises bring the politicians to power, they forget these promises. The ‘Chinthanaya’ says, "I will take steps which will ensure that promises will not be broken," and goes on to enumerate the steps that will be taken. We hope the President will take these steps at least now on the verge of the next Presidential Election to redress the reasonable grievances of pensioners.