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Committee on Ways and Means recommends Pensions Dept to devise formula for augmenting pension benefits in line with prevailing COL
The Parliamentary Committee on Ways and Means last Wednesday (29) recommended to the Department of Pensions to formulate a compassionate strategy to augment pension benefits in accordance with the prevailing cost of living index, parliament sources said.
Chaired by MP Patali Champika Ranawaka, the committee deliberated on this crucial matter involving various government entities, including the Department of Pensions, National Secretariat for Elders, and representatives from pensioners’ associations.
It was revealed during the meeting that the Department of Pensions administers over 700,000 active pensioners, with some individuals inactive due to ongoing investigations or deceases. Approximately 26,000 retirees, comprising 19,000 from civil services and 7,000 from the armed forces, join the active pensioner roster annually. Unfortunately, about 20,000 retirees are removed from the list due to mortality. The department has earmarked Rs. 413 billion monthly for pensions, with a gratuity equivalent to 24 times the pension for individuals retiring at 55 years, payable over a decade.
The National Secretariat for Elders currently disburses a monthly allowance of 2,000 rupees to low-income earners above 70 years with a monthly income below 6,000 rupees, extending assistance to 733,204 individuals validated by Grama Niladhari certificates. The Committee Chair instructed officials to provide detailed statistics on additions, departures due to decease, and the number of elders on the waiting list for allowances.
A considerable discrepancy in pension benefits emerged between pre-2017 and post-2020 retirees due to incremental salary increases for public servants. The decision to suspend the pension increase in 2020 and subsequent salary raises for teacher principals in 2021 aggravated the disparity. Pensioners lamented that the Rs. 10,000 salary increase in 2024 only led to a meager Rs. 2500 rise in pension, which failed to align with the escalating cost of living, urging for a recalibration of pension increments tied to the cost of living index.
The Agrahara insurance scheme’s benefits, available to post-2016 retirees, sparked calls to extend similar advantages to pre-2016 retirees. Committee Chair MP Ranawaka mandated officials to appoint a Department of Pensions representative for discussions with pensioners’ associations scheduled to be held this week (Dec 15) to address their concerns.
Suggestions were made to incorporate senior citizens’ allowance and disability beneficiaries into the social benefits list, emphasizing the urgency of a digital system to promptly update pensioner deceases for efficient pension disbursements. The committee’s recommendations signal a humanitarian approach to address pension disparities and fortify support for the retired populace.State Ministers Lasantha Alagiyawanna and Anuradha Jayaratne, and MPs W. D. J. Seneviratne and Nalaka Bandara Kottegoda were also present.
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US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
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Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
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CIPM successfully concludes 8th Annual Symposium
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.