The retirement age of some 1.1 million public servants may be raised to 63 in keeping with worldwide trends and the increase in life expectancy of Sri Lankans,Pensions Director K.A. Thilakaratne said yesterday.
He said the move was also aimed at preventing officials from drawing double salaries by retiring at 55 and rejoining to do state jobs, thus getting both a state pension and a state salary.
Mr. Thilakaratne said President Mahinda Rajapaksa had studied the proposals and called for trade union observations on the issue before deciding on it.
Under current regulations, the retirement age is 55 but state officials can extend their service until 57 without seeking an annual extension. They face compulsory retirement at 60. Some officials told The Sunday Times the negative aspects of raising the retirement age to 63 would be the blocking of job opportunities of new recruits to the public service and promotions of junior officers.
Mr. Thilakaratne said both positive and negative aspects of the move were being considered with the unemployment issue being given priority. He said there were cases where those who retired rejoined the public service even as secretaries to ministries – thus drawing a big pension as well as a big salary.
Mr. Thilakaratne said the government had taken into consideration the fact that the life expectancy rate had also increased over the years and some of the countries had now increased the retirement age to 65.
President’s men entitled to extension
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has vested in himself the power of extending the compulsory retirement age of any public officer appointed by him. No time bar has been proposed on the extension.
An amendment to the Public and Judicial Officers (Retirement) Ordinance has been effected by the President through an Extraordinary Gazette notification.
The Attorney General, the Auditor General, the Ombudsman, the Inspector General of Police, Service Commanders, Ministry Secretaries and Provincial Chief Secretaries are among those appointed by the President.
However, the move would not apply to the Chief Justice and judges of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal and High Courts as their age of retirement is specified in the Constitution. | 
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