Issue regarding the 2026 General Meetings of the Retirement Trust Fund and the Widows’, Widowers’, and Orphans’ Fund resolved through the Association’s intervention.
The retired community, spread across the island, had been summoned to the Bank of Ceylon Head Office in Colombo for the General Meetings of the Retirement Trust Fund and the Widows’, Widowers’, and Orphans’ Fund on July 18, 2026. However, the meetings for retirees were scheduled for 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM, and 4:00 PM. In doing so, the transport difficulties that members—particularly women—traveling from distant areas would face when returning home were overlooked. The Association immediately brought this situation to the attention of the Deputy General Manager (Human Resources) via a letter. Subsequently, acting on his instructions, all meetings scheduled for that day were cancelled. Arrangements will be made to hold these meetings on a future date, and the Bank of Ceylon Pensioners’ Affairs Division will inform you accordingly.
The Contribution of the BOC PENSIONERS’ ASSOCIATION towards the activities of the BOC United Buddhist Society
It is customary for the above Society to extend invitations to our members too, when they organize the Wesak Poya day Sil campaign and the Pirith Ceremony in commemoration of the Anniversary of BOC, annually.
This year too, a large number of our Office Bearers and members participated in these activities.
Additionally, 600 tubs of yoghurt were distributed as dessert for the devotees who observed SIL on Wesak day, sponsored by our Association.
Twenty of our members, took part in the Wesak Bakthi Gee programme, organised by the above Society and this programme was later telecast over the Rupavahini channel too.
The Long Outstanding Medical Benefits Issue Subjected to the Attention of
The Hon. Deputy Minister of Finance
The crisis, arisen due to the non – implementation of the decision taken by the BOC Board of Directors, on 15/12/2010 to equalize allocation of Medical Benefits of BOC Pensioners with those enjoyed by the active staff, is an issue which has received the highest attention of all our members.
Requests made by the Association over several years to the Management regarding this issue, have not received their due responses. Instead, there have been some increases of certain medical benefits allocations several times, slightly.
The latest increase of 20% of category ‘B’ has been made effective from 28/04/2026, unilaterally. (The Medical Benefits Allocations of members including the above 20% increase, are shown on page 10 of the “Sandeshaya”, News bulletin issued recently.)
As this 20% increase and all such intermittent increases since 2010, have not met the aspirations of our Association pertaining to the main issue at stake, the Association has been compelled to seek the assistance of the political authority, to implement the 2010 decision of the BOC Board of Directors, as clearly spelt out.
Accordingly, a letter dated 14/05/2026, indicating all relevant data in this regard, was handed over to the Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando. The contents of the letter have received the attention of the Hon. Deputy Minister. It is reported that a direct discussion, pertaining to this issue with him, would be granted to our Association.
It is the expectation of the Association that, a solution will be received, even through this discussion, to this long outstanding, critical issue.
BOC PENSIONERS ‘ ASSOCIATION Exchanges Views with the PENSIONERS’ ASSOCIATIONS of the other STATE BANKS.
Our Office Bearers had a discussion with some leaders of the Pensioners’ Associations of PEOPLE’S BANK AND NATIONAL SAVINGS BANK, a few months ago.
The objective of this meeting was to identify the common problems, faced by all the state Bank pensioners and finding solutions to same, through a collective of State Banks.
The first issue discussed, was the anomaly faced by old pensioners with the recent pensioners, with regard to pensions and ways and means of resolving it.
At this discussion, our Office Bearers drew the attention of the Office Bearers of the other Pensioners ‘ Associations, to the policy decision taken by HE the President, with regard to the pensions of Government servants in the last year’s Budget speech.
According to that decision, the pensions of those State Employees who retired in 2020 and the pensions of those who retired prior to 2020, will be equalised and it is being implemented now.
This concession has been granted to Govt. Servants only.
However, it was agreed that if the Pensioners’ Association Office Bearers of all state Banks address a jointly signed letter to HE the President, in this regard, with a request, it would be useful.
It was agreed to discuss this issue some more.
Furthermore, the issue of reviving the Federation of State Banks’ Pensioners of Sri Lanka was also discussed.
It was also pointed out that the existence of such a Federation would be of high significance, in a situation where a need arises in future, to display the collective strength of the retired employees.
All 3 Associations consented to present these issues to their respective Management Committees, obtain their approval and meet at an early date, to discuss the above issues further.
Special. Health Discount Facilities granted to BOC PENSIONERS by the sponsorship of the Association.
At the request of our Association, the Asiri Group of Hospitals, situated at Kirula Rd, Narahenpita and their laboratories and sample collection centres located in other areas, have agreed to offer a 15% discount, for laboratory Tests, which is in force now.
In addition to the above, the Nawaloka hospital, Slave Island, Colombo 02 have also offered a package of discounts, in response to a request of the Association.
These benefits of the Nawaloka hospital will be available from 20/08/2026 to 31.05.2027, as informed by them.
(Please note that the discounts are NOT AVAILABLE in other Nawaloka hospitals in various parts of the island or collection centres.)
For obtaining all the above discounts, you should produce your BOC Pensioner Identity card.
IN CASE OF ANY ISSUES REGARDING THESE BENEFITS PACKAGES, YOU MAY CONTACT,
Mr.Athula Withanage on 0773971427.
The details of the Nawaloka hospital, Colombo 2, discount package appear in page 12 of our latest edition of the “Sandeshaya” News bulletin.