The Prime Minister expressed these ideas on 09.10.2023, addressing the United Pensioners' Federation at the Public Library Auditorium.

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena who expressed his ideas at the event –

We look at you as respected elders who ran our country, protected our country and handed it over to the future generation. All of you are extremely appreciated and special respect of all of us including the government is extended to you for performing your service in various services and fields in your period while facing challenges. We are constantly paying attention to the possibility of providing relief in order to fulfill the expectations of thousands of elderly people who do not get a pension. By approving the financial allocations that can be obtained to certain fields, we have led those discussions to the process of taking those activities forward.

There is no point of scolding the government. I humbly say that we should look to the future. I always intervene to create a favorable condition for the problems of the people who are facing difficulties in the face of financial provisions.

I do not deny for a moment that the prices of goods have increased. As a person who has worked with the public, I cannot say that. We are making every effort to reduce the prices of goods. We cannot deny problems with regard to cost of living. The welfare state we have been accustomed to is changing today.

Instead of a welfare state, we are moving on a different path. Through the policies adopted during the last period, many achievements that were on the side of the people have been changed so far.

As the Minister of Labor, I was there with the people representing you, in the fight to protect those as much as possible. If you look at the Agrahara Insurance Scheme, as the Minister of Labor at that time, to discuss and fill the gap I submitted the Cabinet Paper as a Cabinet Paper of the Ministry of Labor. The Cabinet had to accept it then. It is stated today that there are shortcomings in fully implementing the process. At that time, legal experts said that according to the insurance laws of our country, insurance cannot be given beyond a certain age. After various explanations, the insurance law was changed for Agrahara.

During the attempt to implement it, a controversy arose as a misunderstanding was created among people regarding the process. The gap still exists due to the inability to properly establish an agreement between the regime and you. Let's make a difference to the shortcomings of Agrahara and the situation that the above mentioned group is not entitled to Agrahara. It can be done. Necessary measures should have been taken to make this possible.

We have not forgotten the voice that was always raised for you. Let us work together to create a future where the retired generation of our country can spend their retirement more confidently. Officers including the Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, Mr. Ranjith Asoka, as well as many representatives of pensioner associations scattered all over the island participated in this event.