News
Disputed move to extend retirement age of House staff falls through
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena yesterday (27) acknowledged that a proposal to extend the retirement age of Parliament staff, to 61 years, contrary to a government decision to retire public sector workers, at the age of 60, by end of this year, has been held up by State Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya’s refusal to back the bid.
Speaker Abeywardena said that the House proposal couldn’t be implemented, unless approved by four members of the Parliament Staff Advisory Committee, consisting of him, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Leader of the House Susil Premjayantha and Ranjith Siyambalapitiya.
Retirement of those who have reached 60 was in line with measures taken, against the backdrop of the economic fallout. President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his interim Budget proposed to reduce the retirement age of public sector and semi-governmental employees to 60 years.
Authoritative sources told The Island yesterday that State Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya wouldn’t back the proposal. The SLFPer told Parliament that the country was in such a bad situation Parliament staff couldn’t be given special status.
The State Minister said so on Dec. 13 in response to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa’s push to extend the retirement age of Parliament staff, contrary to the government’s decision to retire public servants at the age of 60, as part of the overall measures to address the continuing crippling economic crisis.
When the Speaker asked the SLFPer whether he couldn’t agree to the appeal made by the parliamentary staff, lawmaker Siyambalapitiya said that the government decision couldn’t be reversed, under any circumstances.
The State Minister emphasized that the issue didn’t concern the Parliament.
The one-time Deputy Finance Minister has dismissed SJB leader Sajith Premadasa’s claim that at a meeting attended by four persons, namely the Speaker, Susil Premajayantha, Siyambalapitiya and himself, the State Finance Minister had agreed to extend the retirement age.
Lawmaker Premadasa alleged that having agreed with them, the State Finance Minister went back on his word.
Lawmaker Siyambalapitiya asked the Opposition Leader to peruse the minutes of the said meeting.
Recently, the Parliament warned the media over the reportage of a move to extend the service of Secretary General of Parliament, Dhammika Dasanayake. The Parliament, in a statement issued on Dec. 05, quoted the Leader of the House Premjayantha as having said that those responsible for the reportage should be summoned before the Committee on Ethics and Privileges.
However, the statement made no reference to only three members of the Ethics and Privileges Committee endorsing the move to extend the retirement age though reference was made to a discussion on the retirement age of Parliament staff members. The statement quoted all members of the Ethics and Privileges Committee, except lawmaker Siyambalapitiya, who opposed the move.
Public Administration Secretary Priyantha Mayadunne said that Parliament staff didn’t come under the purview of his Ministry. However, as far as he was aware, there was no change in the original decision to retire those who had reached 60 by the end of this month. However, this would not apply to selected essential professions, such as medicine, nursing, and engineering.
The relevant gazette, dated Dec. 05, 2022, has been issued by Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, in his capacity as Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government.
The Purawesi Balaya organisation yesterday (24) lodged a complaint with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, requesting an investigation into the alleged overpayment of Rs. 200 million in detention charges for 40 container trucks used in the removal of waste from the distressed ship X-Press Pearl.
According to the complaint, the waste from the ship was transported from a temporary yard in Wattala to the storage yard in Pamunugama using 40 containers, for which an excessive amount — approximately Rs. 200 million — had been paid as detention fees. This information has reportedly been included in the 2021 annual report of the Marine Environment Protection Authority
(MEPA), as cited in a report submitted to Parliament by the National Audit Office.After lodging the complaint Purawesi Balaya Chairman Jamuni Kamantha Thushara said that they hoped the CIABOC would conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
By Sujeewa Thathsara
The main suspect in the shooting and killing of political activist Dan Priyasad had been arrested, the police said yesterday. Investigators suspect that notorious Mohommad Najim Mohommad Imran alias Kanjipani Imran, who is taking refuge in Dubai, ordered Priyasad’s killing.
The suspect is a resident of Wellampitiya.
The convenor of the “Nawa Sinhale National Movement” and political activist, Dan Priyasad, was fatally shot at the ‘Laksanda Sevana’ Housing Complex in Wellampitiya on Tuesday (22) night. He was initially admitted to the Colombo National
Hospital with gunshot wounds, but passed away shortly after due to the severity of his injuries. Priyasad was reportedly shot four times—twice in the chest and twice in the shoulder. Additionally, another individual who sustained minor injuries during the incident is also currently receiving treatment in hospital.
It is reported that two individuals, who had arrived on a motorcycle, fired multiple shots using a pistol before fleeing the scene.
As of yesterday evening police had taken into custody seven persons including two women for questioning related to Priyasad’s murder.
According to police, the contract was arranged by a three-wheeler owner named Dulan, also a resident of Wellampitiya. Dulan is currently in police custody and has provided investigators with key information. It was revealed that Dulan is related to the father and son duo who are the main suspects in a previous case involving the murder of Dan Priyasad’s younger brother. Dulan reportedly informed them that Dan continued to harass him.
The conflict reportedly escalated on April 20, when Dan Priyasad allegedly assaulted Dulan during an altercation in Wellampitiya, also damaging his three-wheeler with a sharp weapon. Dulan later discussed the incident with the father and son, who in turn contacted underworld criminal Grandpass Danushka in Dubai. Danushka, a close associate of Kanjipani Imran, informed him of the issue as well.
Imran, who reportedly had his own grudge against Dan Priyasad, allegedly agreed to support the murder plan and instructed that two contract killers be engaged to carry out the hit.
Dulan did not complain to the police about damage to his three-wheeler but instead had another individual file a complaint on his behalf — believed to be an attempt to distance himself from the murder plot.
The assassination was initially planned for April 21 in front of the Wellampitiya Police Station, when Dan Priyasad was expected to appear in relation to that complaint. However, he did not show up, and the attempt failed. Later that night, the killers struck while Dan was at a family gathering.
So far, police have questioned nearly 20 individuals in connection with the case. A special police team has been deployed to locate the missing father and son, but multiple searches of suspected hideouts have yielded no results.
By Norman Palihawadane and Hemantha Randunu
The government has declared April 26, 2025 (Saturday), a National Day of Mourning in view of late Pope Francis’ funeral, the Ministry of Public Administration announced.
Pope Francis’ funeral has been scheduled for Saturday in front of St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican announced following a meeting of the College of Cardinals at the Catholic Church’s city-state headquarters in the heart of Rome.
The coffin carrying the pope, who died Monday morning after suffering a stroke and heart failure at the age of 88, was brought in a procession on Wednesday morning to the basilica from his residence at Casa Santa Marta, where he died.
-
Business6 days agoDIMO pioneers major fleet expansion with Tata SIGNA Prime Movers for ILM
-
News5 days agoFamily discovers rare species thought to be extinct for over a century in home garden
-
Foreign News6 days agoChina races robots against humans in Beijing half marathon
-
Features3 days agoRuGoesWild: Taking science into the wild — and into the hearts of Sri Lankans
-
Editorial6 days agoSelective use of PTA
-
News3 days agoOrders under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruptions Act No. 9 of 2023 for concurrence of parliament
-
Features4 days agoNew species of Bronzeback snake, discovered in Sri Lanka
-
Features5 days agoThe ironies of history