Jan 28, Colombo: Sri Lankan pension recipients residing overseas will be charged a commission by the Pensions Department.

Director General of the Pensions Department D. Swarnapala has said the Pensions Department suffers a huge loss due to the commissions charged by banks when the Department transferred funds to Sri Lankan pension recipients overseas.

He has explained that the Department has now decided to charge the commission required by the banks from the recipient of the pension.

According to Swarnapala, the commission is currently being charged from Sri Lankan pension recipients residing in Britain and it is to be extended to pensioners in Australia, New Zealand, USA and India as well.

The Director General has observed that there are 22,000 Sri Lankans residing overseas on the pensions list.