MR promises to solve problems Disabled soldiers call off protest
Posted on September 30th, 2019
Courtesy Ceylon Today
The disabled soldiers, who had been engaged in a protest in front of the Colombo Fort Railway Station, called off their protest yesterday (30), afternoon following promises that their issues will be resolved.
Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa visited the soldiers and told them that all issues of war heroes will be resolved under a Government of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa, therefore, they should call off their protest placing their confidence on this promise..
He proceeded to offer a glass of king coconut water to a soldier who had been engaged in a fast, marking the end of the protest.
Meanwhile, UNP Deputy Leader and Minister Sajith Premadasa also visiting the protesting soldiers, earlier yesterday, stated that he had done a lot for the war heroes and that he had provided housing loans for them too.
The Minister said that, as a person who would give his fullest support to the war heroes, he would return with a solution to their issues.
Subsequently, the temporary deck built by the disabled soldiers in front of the Railway Station was demolished.
Disabled war heroes and the families of the fallen launched the protest on 11 September demanding the authorities to provide their pension benefits even after they reach 55 years of age.
On 24 September, Cabinet approval was granted to provide all the Members of the Armed Forces, the Police and the Special Task Force who have been disabled due to the war, a pension equal to their last salary even after their retirement.
However, the protesting war veterans rejected the Cabinet decision and continued with their protest while four disabled war veterans commenced a fast-unto-death demanding that necessary provisions be made for their wives or a relative of the family to receive the pension even after they pass away.
On 26 September, one of the disabled soldiers who were engaged in the fast was admitted to the hospital and another soldier had replaced him and joined the fast-unto-death.
Yesterday marked the 20th consecutive day of their protest since the commencement of their protest.