Sri Lanka, Dec. 17 -- The government has decided to extend the payment period for farmer pensions until December 31 considering the impact caused by the cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka.

In an official statement, the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board announced that farmers can now collect their pension payments from relevant Post Offices or Sub-Post Offices on any working day throughout the month of December.

Under normal circumstances, pensions for farmers are disbursed between the 9th and 15th of each month.

This extension has been granted in consideration of the transportation difficulties faced by pensioners due to damage to access roads leading to post offices caused by the cyclone.

At present, 178,753 farmers and 6,312 fisher...