Lifetime salary allowance for widows of fallen military & police officers

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Sri Lankan Cabinet of Ministers had given the green light to provide a lifetime salary allowance to the widows of fallen military personnel and police officers.

Defence Secretary Gen. Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) speaking to reporters on Thursday (29) said the widows of fallen military personnel and police officers were earlier only entitled to the salary allowance until they reach the age of 55 and thereafter a pension. "This new provision was prepared because we fought alongside those fallen servicemen," said the Defence Secretary adding when the request for the lifetime salary allowance was produced to the Cabinet of Minister it received unanimous approval. In addition, the green light was given to provide an Rs. 25,000/- monthly lifetime allowance to the parents of unmarried military personnel and police officers who died during the war, from the day the officers were supposed to turn 55 years of age. Further, the salaries of military personnel and police officers who were forced to retire by the Medical Board of the Military after sustaining injuries during the war and then passed away will be awarded to their dependants as a lifetime allowance. In addition, military personnel and police officers who sustained injuries due to non-terror activities will also be given relief by a review board, said the Defence Secretary.