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Department of Pensions launches five new digital systems
The launch of five new digital technology systems, further expanding the "Pensions Management System" of the Department of Pensions, was held on 17.01.2025 under the patronage of the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, Dr. A.H.M.H. Abayaratne, and with the participation of the Secretary to the Ministry, Mr. S. Alokabandara, at the Colombo District Secretariat premises.
Accordingly, five data systems were launched, namely the new official website of the Department of Pensions, the information system for reporting pensioner deaths, the information system for online reservation of railway warrants and obtaining railway permits for pensioners, the new information system for registration in the Widows and Orphans Scheme, and the newly redesigned information system for registering Public Service Provident Funds.
The Minister in charge of the subject stated that the digital technology efforts of the Department of Pensions to bring the pension payment process, which is a complex subject area spread across a wide field, to the fingertips of the retiree will be a first step in realizing the new government policy of providing digital access to the public service.
The IT Division of the Department of Pensions worked to create all these systems by directing its internal staff, and the Registrar General's Department, Sri Lanka Railways, Bank of Ceylon and Sri Lanka Mobitel acted as stakeholders in this massive process, making the G2G concept a reality.
The launch of the new digital technology systems was attended by the Minister in charge of the subject, Dr. A.H.M.H. Abayaratne, the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, Mr. Aloka Bandara, as well as heads of state and private institutions and retirees.
Hon. Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government supervises the Department of Pensions
Dr. A.H.M.H. Abayaratne, Hon. Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, supervised the Department of Pensions on 27.12.2024.
He fully supervised the various branches within the Department of Pensions, including Centralized, Decentralized, Widows and Orphans, Information Technology, Policy, Armed Services, Foreign Pensions, Contributions, Internal Audit, Accounts, Control, 1970 Short Call Service, and Archives. These branches implement the mechanisms developed by the Department to activate the pensions of officers from the Civil and Armed Services who retire from public service and to ensure the payment of benefits to them and their heirs.
By integrating the Pension Data Management System (PMS), several stages of the pension payment process have already been made available to pensioners online. The Minister expressed his gratitude to the Head of the Department, the Director General of Pensions, Mr. A. Jagath D. Dias, for leading the process, and to the officers working in the Department's head office and in Divisional Secretariats across the island for their contributions.
The Minister also approved the program to quickly launch several online projects planned by the Information Technology Division of the Department of Pensions, aimed at further streamlining and simplifying services for pensioners, including the payment of over 40,000 civil and widows' and orphans' pensions annually.
The Minister stated that the new government will focus on sustainably maintaining the pension system, which is the government's primary social security system, and on revising long-standing pension policies while formulating new ones to ensure its continued sustainability.
The Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, Dr. A.H.M.H. Abayaratne, the Secretary to the Ministry, Mr. Aloka Bandara, the Director General of Pensions, Mr. A. Jagath D. Dias, the Additional Director General of Pensions, Ms. Sujani Pettawadu, and other officials participated in this event.
Mr. Chaminda Hettiarachchi officially assumed duties as the new Director General of Pensions
Mr. Chaminda Hettiarachchi assumed duties as the new Director General of the Department of Pensions on January 1, 2025.
A Special Grade Officer of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service, Mr. Chaminda Hettiarachchi joined the service in 2000. Prior to his appointment as the Director General of Pensions, he served as the Trincomalee District Secretary.
Cabinet approval was granted to appoint Mr. Chaminda Hettiarachchi to the vacant position following the retirement of the Director General of Pensions, Mr. A. Jagath D. Dias, on September 16, 2024, and the conclusion of his extended term on December 31, 2024.
With nearly 25 years of experience in development and administration, his expertise will greatly support the ongoing technological and innovative initiatives of the Department of Pensions, aimed at further enhancing the pension payment process for the senior pensioner community, which now exceeds 725,000.
We would like to extend our best wishes to the new Director General of Pensions in his future duties, as well as to all officers working in the Department of Pensions, those attached to the Department and serving in Divisional Secretariats across the island, and the Sri Lankan pensioner community.
Marking the commencement of duties of the Pensions Department for the year 2025 in conjunction with the Clean Sri Lanka program
The Department of Pensions commenced its duties for the new year, 2025, today (January 1, 2025), in line with the 'Clean Sri Lanka' program, jointly implemented by the Presidential Task Force and the Presidential Secretariat.