Politick Parliament. On record. For every citizen.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
10th Parliament· 154 sittings on record · 30,475 speeches · latest 10 June 2026

Sitting of Thursday, 21 May 2026

10th Parliament· 21 debates· 196 speeches· 66 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 23621 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard

‹ Previous sitting Next sitting ›

Order of business

Speeches load per item. Summaries shown here are AI-generated and labelled; verbatim text is on each speech page.

  5. 5 Oral question Oral Question Q.921/2025: Widows of Fallen or Missing Military Personnel - Pension/Allowances 6 speeches
    • The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB

      AI summary Asked the Minister of Defence to clarify pension and allowance arrangements for widows of military personnel killed in action or missing during the war. The question sought details on payments from the date of death until the notional retirement date, fixed monthly allowances thereafter, and whether widows of those recorded as “missing due to a terrorist attack” are denied such benefits. It further asked whether this was considered unjust and whether legal provisions could be introduced to grant the allowance based on the period the personnel have been missing.

      Justice & Human RightsSecurity & Defence Full speech →
    • The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera - Deputy Minister of Defence JJB

      AI summary The Deputy Minister of Defence stated that dependents of military personnel who died due to terrorist causes receive salary and allowances until the deceased’s notional age of 55, after which a fixed lifelong allowance equivalent to the salary at that age is paid under MoD Circular No. MOD/01/2021. He said approval has been granted to amend the Armed Forces Widows’ and Orphans’ Pensions provisions to extend eligibility to spouses and children of certain medically retired personnel who marry after retirement. For personnel missing in action, he noted that death certificates may be issued under the Registration of Deaths (Temporary Provisions) Act, No. 19 of 2010, and that applicable allowances are paid from the date the missing person would have reached 55, so no injustice arises.

      Security & DefencePublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB

      AI summary Rohini Kumari Wijerathna raised a supplementary question during war heroes’ commemorations regarding disabled veterans from the three-decade war. She asked what immediate steps would be taken to pay the fixed allowance owed to disabled war heroes over age 55 who appeared before Medical Boards but have not received it due to delays in disability pension payments.

      Public FinanceSecurity & Defence Full speech →
    • The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera - Deputy Minister of Defence JJB

      AI summary A special programme and nearly completed Cabinet Memorandum are being prepared to address pension and disability-related issues affecting retired, discharged, absent-without-leave, and conflict-disabled personnel, including those assessed by Medical Boards after age 55. The Deputy Minister said Cabinet approval was obtained on 14 July 2025 to appoint a committee covering affected Tri-Forces, Police and STF personnel, including widows and deceased personnel’s families, with the aim of resolving the issues within the year.

      Security & DefenceJustice & Human Rights Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna SJB

      AI summary Hon. Rohini Kumari Wijerathna called for urgent relief to disabled and retired military personnel facing economic hardship, referring to a Cabinet paper intended to address their concerns. She asked how soon arrears of salary and allowances withheld from some medically retired personnel, and fixed allowances withheld from certain widows of soldiers who died before age 55, would be resolved and what steps would be taken to expedite payment.

      Justice & Human RightsPublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera - Deputy Minister of Defence JJB

      AI summary Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera stated that issues affecting those absent during the conflict, discharged personnel, and widows’ families would be addressed through a special committee and a Cabinet Memorandum, with disciplinary matters considered where relevant. He said the Government intends to obtain Cabinet approval, bring amendments to the Widows’ and Orphans’ Pensions legislation to Parliament, and expedite the relevant payments, noting that the President has given the matter special attention.

      Security & DefenceJustice & Human Rights Full speech →