Letters to the Editor
14th May 2000
People's Forum
English textbook
English is a compulsory subject for students of the Advanced Level 2001 batch. Though the textbook, 'General English' compiled by the National Institute of Education (NIE) was issued free to these students last year, 80% of those in the Amparai district have not got it yet.An NIE officer who participated in the Tamil T.V. programme, 'Uthaya Tharisanam' on March 26, said that no free books are being issued to A.L. students on any subject when I posed a question on the phone. This reply is misleading as a limited number have already been issued free.
The education authorities in Kalmunai confirm that these books are under print and would be issued soon. What is the position with regard to the issue of these books? If they are not given free, where can the students buy them?
A disheartened parent
The NIE's Director of English says that A.L. books are usually
not issued free to students. However, with regard to this book, it was
decided that it would be printed in the provinces and issued free. This
task was undertaken by the Chief Ministers. As it was later found that
some schools had not got sufficient stocks, the Education Publications
Department is now printing the books for the new A.L. batch and Volume
1 will be issued free. Meanwhile, Volume 2 is being written and will be
ready by August.
Commuted pension
In 1991, the UNP Government issued a circular enabling public servants who had 20 years service to seek voluntary retirement. At retirement, they were given two-and-a-half years' salary instead of a commuted pension. I retired under the same scheme after being employed as an English Assistant Teacher for 30 years and was paid Rs. 70,000. I would like to clarify whether I can seek another payment as a commuted pension.Mrs. S. Devendra
The Director of Pensions says that you have retired under Circular
No.44/90. Since you completed 30 years of service you have been paid your
full dues. There is no other special payment.
Transfer of pension
I requested the Accountant, Pensions Department, in November 1999, to transfer the payment of my monthly pension from the People's Bank, Borella to the Seylan Bank, Negombo.I sent a reminder to the Director of the department with a copy to the Accountant on January 18. I still have not received an acknowledgement nor has my payment been transferred from Colombo to Negombo. Why this delay?
T.D.S. Gunawardena
The Director of Pensions has written to the Divisional Secretary,
Elvitigala Mawatha — enclosing copies of your letter to the People's Forum
— instructing that immediate action be taken to transfer the pension, if
it has not been done yet and report back to her. Meanwhile, the Officer-in-Charge
of Pensions at the Thimbirigasyaya Divisional Secretariat says that the
pension will be transferred from June.
Change of address unheeded
A request to the Accountant (Pensions) of the Colombo Divisional Secretariat to send my pension vouchers to a new address from August 1999, as I had moved from my old residence in July, is unheeded. Even though I have sent them several reminders in September, October and December the vouchers still go to my old address.K. Phurananandah
The Director of Pensions has requested the Divisional Secretary,
Colombo 12, to send the vouchers to the new address given by you.
Pension arrears
No action has been taken to pay the arrears of the cost of living allowance, though an acknowledgement was given to me by the Accountant attached to the Divisional Secretary's office, Colombo 11, during the 'On the spot' service held on March 31, 1999. I understand that my pension file has been transferred to the D.S. office opened at Thimbirigasyaya on August 1, last year.N. Somasunderam
The Director of Pensions has written to the Divisional Secretary, Thimbirigasyaya on May 3, this year — enclosing a copy of your letter to the People's Forum– requesting immediate action to pay the arrears if you are entitled to them and report back to her.
The Officer-in-Charge of Pensions at Thimbirigasyaya says they
need to know the bank through which your pension is being paid to trace
your file.
EPF & ETF claim
I worked at Cinemas Ltd., for six months and at an associate company called Universal Marketing Services for another six months in 1987. During my service at Cinemas Ltd., my EPF and ETF contributions were not remitted to the Provident Fund Department, since the company had its own fund — KG Provident Fund. I was paid only a nominal sum as EPF.When I left Universal Marketing Services I was assured that the contributions had been remitted to the department. Since I am 51 years old, I intend claiming my EPF. But whenever I call this organisation, I am told that my file is lost and they are unable to process my claim.
Ms. P. Puvaneswary
The Deputy Commissioner of Labour, EPF Department said that since this is a private provident fund, the matter has been handed over to Nimal Perera, (Tel 564508) Assistant Commissioner in charge of private provident funds. He will summon the employer concerned and make inquiries.
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