No final decision to extend retirement age of military officers: Chamal

12 March 2022 12:00 am Views - 617

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera   

A final decision has not been made on extending the retirement age of military officers from 22years service to 25years as reported, State Minister of Defence Chamal Rajapaksa said yesterday.  

National People’s Power MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake raising a question under 27/2 said that the Additional Secretary to the Defence Ministry had sent letters to the Navy and Air Force on extending the retirement age of military officers from 22years to 25years service.  


The minister said that the Defence Ministry had called for opinion from the navy and air force considering various proposals requesting for extention of the retirement age of military officers.  


He said it was observed that the service of  senior non-commissioned military officers attached to professional sections should be extended and also considering the proposals on the matter, the Defence Ministry had called for opinion on drafting a common policy for the Military to extend the retirement age of non-commissioned military officers to 25years service from 22years of service.  


MP Dissanayake said the military officers should be allowed to take decisions on retiring or serving after 22 years of service without being forced.   The Minister said there was no intention of extending their retirement age by force and that Parliament would be informed if such a proposal was implemented.