Defence Ministry warns of bid to confuse disabled soldiers and families

The Defence Ministry says the Cabinet has approved the payment of allowances to wives of all disabled servicemen who died before the age of 55.

Colonel Nalin Herath, Officiating Director, Media Centre, Defence Ministry, in a statement issued on Tuesday (12), explained measures in this regard.

Alleging that some interested parties were trying to confuse disabled servicemen and their families, the Defence Ministry assured them that they need not have any undue fear in this regard.

The Defence Ministry says it has already made necessary arrangements for stipends to be paid to disabled tri forces personnel who retire from service on medical grounds due to disabilities caused during the terrorist war, till the age of 55 years, and, thereafter, for the lifetime of the serviceman and his widow.

However, according to the existing procedures, if a disabled service personnel dies before the age of 55 years, a medical board has to confirm that the cause of death is a direct result of his disability.

Colonel Herath said, “If the medical board cannot confirm that the death was caused as a direct result of the disability, the widow is entitled to only the Widow’s and Orphan’s Pension.

“Due to this reason, a significant number of requests have been made to the Defence Ministry from aggrieved widows requesting that the allowance and salary continue to be paid to them.

“In response to those requests, necessary measures have already been taken to obtain Cabinet approval for providing relief to them.”