The Sri Lanka Army has issued a clarification denying allegations circulating on social media regarding administrative decisions and the recent retirement of several officers. 

The Army said certain platforms were misrepresenting routine administrative processes to discredit the institution.

In an official statement, the Army said the claims, including allegations of forged documents and unauthorized dismissals, were baseless and lacked an understanding of its internal procedures. 

The statement noted that officer retirements follow established service regulations and evaluations based on rank, conduct, and eligibility criteria.

Retirements are often linked to officers reaching their maximum tenure within a rank if they do not qualify for promotion, the Army explained. It noted that these decisions are not unilateral but are taken collectively by selection and advisory boards comprising senior officers. 

It further clarified that in the past, exceptions were made for some officers, especially those who served during the civil conflict, to extend their service beyond standard limits. However, these exceptions had begun affecting overall efficiency and morale within the ranks, prompting a return to standard regulatory procedures.

The Army dismissed claims that retirements were politically motivated or retaliatory, stating that recent decisions were made to ensure institutional integrity and professional advancement for eligible officers. (Newswire)

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China would gradually raise its statutory retirement age, as the country grapples with a looming demographic crisis and an ageing population. Hundreds of millions of people in China are set to enter old age in the coming decades while the birth rate dwindles dramatically.

The national population fell in 2023 for the second year in a row, with policymakers and experts warning of severe impacts on the economy, healthcare and social welfare systems if action is not taken.

China’s retirement age had not been raised for decades and had been among the lowest in the world.

State news agency Xinhua said top officials in Beijing had decided that “the statutory retirement age for male workers will be gradually extended from the original 60 years to 63 years”.

For women workers the retirement age will be extended “from the original 50 or 55 years to 55 and 58 years, respectively”, depending on the type of job, Xinhua reported.

It said the retirement age would be gradually raised over 15 years from 2025, adding that from 2030, workers would need to make a minimum of 20 years of basic pension contributions instead of the current 15.

The new rules will allow Chinese people “to postpone retirement to an even later date if they reach an agreement with employers”, Xinhua said.

‘Inevitable choice’

State media said the move was based on a “comprehensive assessment of the average life expectancy, health conditions, the population structure, the level of education and workforce supply.”

China’s current retirement age was set at a time of widespread scarcity and impoverishment, well before market reforms brought comparative wealth and rapid improvements in nutrition, health and living conditions.

But in recent years the world’s second-largest economy has had to contend with slowing growth, while a fast-greying population and a baby bust pile pressure onto its pension and public health systems.

An expert said that “demographic change” was likely the key factor behind the decision.

“The central government first proposed changing the retirement age in 2013, and there has been a lot of social discussion in the decade since,” said Li Changan, a labour economist at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing.

“I think many people are mentally prepared for the announcement.”

Prior to the news, state media had published articles touting the proposed retirement age. The People’s Daily said that the hike would “adapt to the objective situation of our country’s widespread increase in life expectancy and years of education”.

It quoted Mo Rong, director of the Chinese Academy of Labour and Social Security, as saying the move was “an inevitable choice for our country to adapt to the new normal of population development”.

But He Yafu, an independent population expert, said the plan “cannot fundamentally deal with the negative impacts of population ageing and shrinkage on the economy, society, and technology”.

“The fundamental measure to deal with the ageing problem is to increase the fertility rate,” he said.

Recent statistics make grim reading for policymakers hoping for a reversal in the country’s demographic destiny.

People over 60 are expected to make up nearly a third of China’s population by 2035, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit, a research group.

Meanwhile, the country’s fertility rate has fallen far below the level required to keep the population stable, despite recent relaxations of the “one-child” policy and official efforts to stimulate births.

Many young people already feel disillusioned by an economic system that they say fetes intense study and long working hours for increasingly scant reward. (AFP)

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A Compulsory Retirement Scheme will be implemented for at least 267 state employees following the amalgamation of the state-owned entities, Ceylon Fertilizer Company Limited and Colombo Commercial Fertilizer Company Limited. 

According to the government, 267 employees have consented to be retired under the Compulsory Retirement Scheme introduced along with the merger of the two state institutions. 

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Agriculture and Plantation Industries to implement the Compulsory Retirement Scheme.

Approval has also been granted to spend Rs. 844 million from the funds of the two fertilizer companies for the execution of the proposed retirement scheme. 

The funds are to be spent subject to the recommendations of the Officials Committee appointed under the aegis of the Secretary to the Prime Minister for retirement under the voluntary pension scheme of excess employees in state enterprises. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka’s women’s cricket team skipper, Chamari Athapaththu has hinted at her possible retirement from the sport of cricket.

Speaking to the media in South Africa, Athapaththu revealed she believes her retirement is ‘very soon’. 

She, however, stopped short of mentioning details of her retirement, stating that she could not mention the exact dates. 

The Sri Lanka women’s cricket team skipper went on to heap praise on her young team.

Chamari Athapaththu said she hopes to see her young team win the women’s World Cup one day. (Newswire)

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The Court of Appeal has quashed a state order pertaining to the retirement of persons aged over 60 in Sri Lanka’s Nursing Service.

The state order was issued directing all persons aged over 60 in four grades of Sri Lanka’s Nursing Service to retire.

Taking up for hearing the case in this regard, the Court of Appeal on Tuesday (Oct 24) quashed the state order.

The Court further issued an order recalling all persons aged over 60 who were sent on retirement under the state order, to rejoin the service. (NewsWire)

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