The Ministry of Defence has firmly rejected circulating claims that the “Maa Piya Rekawaranaya” welfare allowance provided to the parents of fallen and disabled war heroes has been suspended, calling such reports completely false and misleading.
Addressing Parliament today (Nov 24), Deputy Defence Minister Major General (Retd) Arun Jayasekara said the allowance continues without interruption under the supervision of the Ranaviru Sevana Authority, stressing that the government has taken no decision to discontinue the financial support scheme.
He said eligible parents receive a monthly allowance of Rs. 750 per person, but payments may be delayed in cases where beneficiaries fail to submit their mandatory Life Certificate, which is required twice a year to confirm that recipients are alive.
Out of 32,867 eligible beneficiaries, Life Certificates for the first half of the year were submitted by 17,636 parents, while only 4,727 certificates have been received so far for the second half of the year beginning in July. Due to the absence of verification from the remaining beneficiaries, payments could not be processed, the Ministry explained. (Newswire)
