News
Kandy Development Officers form joint alliance to win their demands
Complain of broken promises made by comrades to come to power
State and Provincial State Service Development Officers on March 10 reached a consensus to form a joint trade union alliance. This move aims to secure professional rights and resolve long-standing issues that have remained unaddressed for over thirty years despite repeated requests.
Representatives from 11 trade unions, representing over 160,000 Development Officers across 14,000 rural divisions, state institutions, and the education sector, signed this consensus agreement. Titled the “Joint Declaration of the State and Provincial State Service Development Officers’ Trade Union Alliance,” the agreement commits all participating unions to unified trade union action to win their rights starting today.
Accordingly, a resolution was passed to summon Development Officers from all provinces to Colombo on the 26th of this month for a massive convention to pressure the government into granting their rights.
Addressing the media, Anuradha Seneviratne, General Secretary of the All Ceylon Development Officers’ Association, and Dhammika Munasinghe of the Joint Alliance, detailed a series of demands. These include a formal recruitment procedure, an all island service by integrating state and provincial services, a unique salary code, a salary scale commensurate with educational qualifications, a promotion scheme with a “Super Grade,” and a clear placement within the public service hierarchy. They also demanded fair opportunities to enter administrative and planning services, scientific duty lists, higher education opportunities, a practical transfer system, inclusion of trainee periods into permanent service, and limiting grade promotion periods to five years. They lamented that despite 30 years of discussions under various governments, the current administration remains arrogant and indifferent, refusing even a discussion.
The Development Officers further stated that although figures like Lal Kantha, Wasantha Samarasinghe, and Chandana Suriyaarachchi worked closely with unions to establish this government, promising immediate solutions for graduates, those promises had now proven to be hollow.
They pointed out that Development Officers, who possess Bachelor’s, Master’s, and even PhD degrees, have been reduced to subordinates serving the whims of administrative officers. They alleged that highly qualified officers are often managed by those with lesser qualifications, and their potential is not being effectively utilised for national development.
The Joint Alliance emphasised that there will be no turning back until their rights are won, expressing readiness for continuous service struggles if necessary. They announced that further actions would be declared following the grand convention in Colombo on the 26th. Several other representatives of Development Officer unions also shared their views during the briefing.
By S. K. Samaranayake
More than 108,000 complaints of child abuse had been received by the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) between 2015 and 2025, Women and Child Affairs Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj told Parliament yesterday.
Responding to a question raised by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa under Standing Order 27/2, the Minister said 4,421 child abuse cases were pending before High Courts as of April 30 this year, with indictments already filed against the accused.
She said the NCPA was working with 47 Police Child and Women Protection Bureaus under the Police Children and Women Abuse Prevention Division to expedite the hearing and conclusion of these cases.
The Minister said measures were also being taken to protect child victims during legal proceedings by introducing a system to record their evidence through video in a safe and child-friendly environment, thereby reducing the need for them to appear in court.
She said discussions were underway with the Ministries of Health and Mass Media and other relevant institutions to establish nine provincial video evidence recording units.
by Saman Indrajith ✍️
The Court of Appeal yesterday dismissed a writ petition seeking to postpone the 2026 G.C.E. A/L Examination by two months.
The petition, filed by a group of students due to sit the examination for the first and second time, sought an order delaying the examination, which is scheduled to commence next month.
The Court announced its decision after considering submissions made in support of the application and declined to grant leave to proceed with the petition.
As a result, the 2026 G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination will be held as scheduled in August.
Leader of the House and Minister Bimal Rathnayake yesterday criticised the conduct of MP Archchuna Ramanathan in Parliament, describing the behaviour of certain lawmakers as “uncivilised, disgraceful and indecent”, while a heated exchange followed between government and opposition members.
Rathnayake made the remarks when Ramanathan attempted to raise a point of order during parliamentary proceedings.
“This parliament has one or two members who behave in a very uncivilised, disgraceful manner. We tolerate them because one of them is mentally ill,” Rathnayake said.
He alleged that Ramanathan had insulted even members of the Tamil community.
“The things he says may not be heard through the microphone, but the four walls of this Parliament are witnesses,” Rathnayake said, adding that Ramanathan’s conduct was not limited to Parliament.
He claimed that the Jaffna District Coordinating Committee meeting could not be held due to Ramanathan’s behaviour and said MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam had written to the Speaker stating that he could not sit near him.
The Speaker intervened during the exchange, warning Ramanathan not to behave in a manner that would turn Parliament into “a joke”. He also said the MP had previously addressed him in an insulting manner.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa criticised the manner in which Rathnayake and the Speaker had addressed the matter, saying MPs should not be spoken to improperly and urging members to follow parliamentary Standing Orders.
Ramanathan, responding to the remarks, said: “I may be a psycho, but I am not a homosexual.”
by Saman Indrajith ✍️
Child abuse crisis: 108,000 complaints reported in 10 years
CA dismisses writ petition seeking postponement of A/L exam
Bimal’s remarks on MP’s conduct spark heated exchange in Parliament
SC rules fundamental rights of Aragalaya activist were violated
TRINEX-26 naval exercise begins off Trincomalee coast
Court defers hearing of GR’s Easter Sunday petition
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