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 countrywide dengue outbreak has intensified, with the death toll rising to 50, by July 16, as the number of reported infections surpassed 73,000, according to the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU).
The country has recorded 73,455 dengue cases so far this year, with the case fatality rate standing at 0.07 percent, highlighting the severity of the ongoing outbreak.
The Western Province continues to remain the worst affected region, accounting for more than half of the total cases, with 38,700 infections. The Gampaha District has recorded the highest number of cases in the province with 15,341, followed closely by Colombo with 14,625.
The Southern Province has reported 11,382 cases, while the Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces have each recorded more than 6,000 infections.
Dengue cases have shown a sharp increase in recent months, with June recording the highest monthly total of 21,538 cases, while July has already reported 18,076 infections. In comparison, 8,590 cases were reported in May, and 5,651 in April.
Health authorities have identified 175 Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas as high-risk locations during the 27th epidemiological week. An average of 2,677 new dengue cases are being reported daily, prompting authorities to intensify prevention and mosquito control measures.
The Colombo High Court yesterday (17) resumed hearing the money laundering case filed against Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The proceedings were held before High Court Judge Udesh Ranatunga, where evidence was recorded from prosecution witnesses, under the direction of Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara.
President’s Counsel Sampath Mendis, appearing for Yoshitha Rajapaksa, cross-examined the witnesses during the hearing.
After recording evidence, the court ordered that further examination of evidence be postponed until July 24.
The Attorney General has filed indictments, alleging that Yoshitha Rajapaksa committed an offence, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, by purchasing five plots of land in Dehiwala and Ratmalana, valued at more than Rs. 73 million.
Former IGP Chandana Deepal Wickramaratne died after sustaining a gunshot injury at his residence, in Thalangama, yesterday (17), with police saying preliminary investigations indicate that the incident was a suspected suicide.
Kaduwela Magistrate Aruna Indrajith Buddhadasa, on Friday, ordered the Officer-in-Charge of the Malabe Police Station, Police Inspector Pradeep Ranasinghe, to conduct a formal investigation into the death and submit a report to court on its progress.
The order was issued after the Malabe Police Station presented facts before court regarding the incident.
According to police, the Malabe Police Station received information from the Police Unit of the Colombo East Base Hospital, in Mulleriyawa, that Wickramaratne, who resided in the Thalahena area, within the Malabe Police division, had died after being admitted to hospital, with gunshot injuries.
Police Spokesman ASP F.U. Wootler said Wickramaratne had allegedly used the firearm of his personal security officer and shot himself at his residence.
Police said the shooting had taken place at his residence on Parakum Road, Thalangama, on Thursday morning, before he was due to leave for his regular exercise routine. He was rushed to the Colombo East Base Hospital, in Mulleriyawa, with serious injuries but was pronounced dead upon admission, police said.
The deceased’s remains were placed at the Colombo East Base Hospital, where a post-mortem examination was scheduled to be conducted.
ASP Wootler said three police teams have been appointed to investigate the incident. Further investigations are being conducted by the Crime Division of the Western Province South Range and the Malabe Police Station.
Wickramaratne, 63, served as the 35th Inspector General of Police of Sri Lanka from November 27, 2020, to November 23, 2023.
He joined the Sri Lanka Police in 1986 as a Probationary Assistant Superintendent of Police and later served in several senior positions.
A graduate of the University of Colombo and the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, he also served as Acting IGP for more than a year, from April 28, 2019, before being appointed IGP, in November 2020.
He retired from the post of Inspector General of Police, in November 2023.
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