The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) Aruna Jayasekera - Deputy Minister of Defence

¶ 01 On behalf of the Minister of Defence, I answer:

¶ 02 (a) (i) For tri-forces personnel disabled due to terrorist activities: - If, upon examination by a Medical Board, the loss of earning capacity is 20% or more, they may be retired on medical grounds with the following: • Cabinet Decision No. AMP/1982/305(09) of 21.07.1982: payment of monthly salary and allowances until age 55. • Under the Tri-Forces Pension and Gratuity Compendium: eligibility for service pension and disability pension based on service; pension adjusted after age 55. • Public Administration Circular 11/88 of 13.07.1988: a one-time ex-gratia payment under Army Standing Order 12/86 on medical discharge due to disability, according to loss of earning capacity: - 20% – Rs. 20,000 - 40% – Rs. 40,000 - 60% – Rs. 60,000 - 80% – Rs. 80,000 - 100% – Rs. 100,000 • Cabinet Decision Nos. AMP/19/2618/103/069-1 of 24.09.2019: after age 55, the total monetary benefits including all salary and allowances up to that date shall continue, unchanged, as a permanent monthly allowance during life and thereafter to the widow.

¶ 03 (ii) For those disabled due to non-terrorist causes (particularly before 19.05.2009): • Cabinet Decision No. AMP/20/1383/303/013 of 10.09.2020: salary and allowances until age 55. • Under the Pension/Gratuity Compendium: disability pension/service pension and adjustment after age 55. • Cabinet Decision Nos. AMP/21/0561/303/047 of 27.04.2021 and AMP/23/2527/603/061 of 24.01.2024: after age 55, continuation of a permanent monthly allowance for life and thereafter to the widow. • Public Administration Circular 22-93(iv) of 29.12.2008: for 100% permanent disability while on duty, salary and allowances until age 55. • Public Administration Circular 22-93(iii) of 21.09.1993: for other accidental injuries (not total disability) while on duty, a lump-sum compensation calculated per disability percentage. • If death occurs after age 55, the permanent monthly allowance continues to be paid to the widow for her lifetime per the above Cabinet Decisions. • If death occurs before age 55 due to the disability sustained in active duty, dependents shall receive the monthly salary and allowances until the date on which the deceased would have attained age 55; thereafter, the widow shall receive the permanent monthly allowance. • In addition to the above, widows are paid widow’s and orphan’s pensions monthly under the Widows’ and Orphans’ Pension Scheme (Armed Forces) Act, No. 18 of 1970. After the deceased would have reached 55, the widow’s pension is revised to 85% of the member’s last drawn salary. • For unmarried deceased members, parents are eligible for dependents’ allowance and a payment of Rs. 25,000 under the same Cabinet Decisions.

¶ 04 (iii) Adequacy depends on lifestyle and expenditure patterns of recipients; thus, no definitive answer. By way of illustration, as of August 2025: • A Lance Corporal medically retired on 13.08.2015 (age 52): salary and allowances Rs. 122,524.90; widow receives W&OP Rs. 25,055.80. • A Major medically retired on 09.06.2014 who died at age 50: widow receives Rs. 166,211.80 as pension and Rs. 29,791.85 as W&OP.

¶ 05 (iv) Not applicable.

¶ 06 (b) (i) If the disabled member dies before retirement, the Medical Board of three senior Army medical officers determines whether the causative incident contributed to death. If not contributory, only the regular dependents’ benefits are paid. Additionally, steps are being taken to submit a Cabinet paper to provide salary and allowances up to the date the deceased would have attained age 55 to dependents in this category. (ii) For those who did not report for duty (AWOL) due to disability and were later discharged as services not required: action is being taken to obtain Cabinet approval to allow medical retirement and benefits (salary/allowances up to 55; disability pension/permanent monthly allowance), but the Department of Management Services, by letter DMS/DEFENCE/CM of 27.06.2025, did not concur. Nevertheless, a committee including a senior medical officer and relevant legal/administrative officers has been appointed to recommend relief for those with severe, permanent disability who cannot maintain themselves, with a view to extending similar benefits. (iii) They were discharged as AWOL under military law and regulations. (iv) Yes. (v) Steps are being taken. (vi) After consideration by a Medical Board and a committee determined by the Secretary, Ministry of Defence, if severe permanent disability is confirmed, a Cabinet paper is being prepared to extend to them the same relief granted on medical discharge.

¶ 07 (c) Not applicable.