The Widows’ and Orphans’ Pension Fund (W&OP) Amendment Bill passed in Legislature unanimously yesterday is a great relief, particularly for the widows of the security forces. Many young girls who were married to security forces personnel attained widowhood following the death of their husbands in the operations launched to quell the terrorism.

These widows some of whom were in their tender age and some others who were having very young children were unable to remarry as they would lose their pensions entitled to them under the provisions of the Widows’ and Orphans’ Fund if they remarried. Spouses and children under the age of 26 years of the public officials are entitled to a monthly payment equivalent to the pension drawn by the deceased or the fifty percent of the Salary.

In view of this discriminatory and unjust provision in the Old Act the government took measures to introduce the Amendment and thereby remove the impediment barring these young girls losing the pensions once they are getting remarried.

According to the new Act passed yesterday widows of public servants and members of the armed service would receive half of their husband’s pension even if they married again, and the children of the first marriage would also get a portion of the pension.

The opposition UNP and the TNA in the legislature praised the government for introducing this new Bill

^{Government Information Department}