President Anura Kumara Disanayake stated that the trade union actions by healthcare professionals cannot be justified, considering that the largest salary increase in history granted by a government without any demands or pressure from professional associations has already been implemented.

The President made these remarks during a meeting held on Wednesday (19) at the Presidential Secretariat with the Public Services United Nurses Union (PSUNU).

President Anura Kumara Disanayake highlighted that despite operating within a constrained economic framework, the government has prioritized increasing the basic salaries of public sector employees in this year’s budget. This initiative aims to enhance the efficiency of the public service, attract skilled professionals, and ensure the sustainability of the sector.

The President stated that salaries have been increased under six key categories in the budget. These include a minimum increase of Rs. 15,000 in the basic salary, an increment in overtime and holiday allowances, an 80% increase in salary increments, an upward revision of pension benefits in line with the revised total salary, and an increase in the taxable income threshold.

Officials from the PSUNU expressed their appreciation for the salary increments, highlighting that they have been well received by a significant portion of the public sector workforce. They also brought to the President’s attention the existing challenges within the nursing profession and requested prompt solutions to address these issues.

The meeting was attended by the Chancellor of the University of Colombo, Chief Sanganayaka of Western Province, the Chairman of PSUNU Most Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda Thera, Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake along with several officials from the PSUNU.

The Supreme Court yesterday (19) dismissed former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s plea for restoration of his security contingent, consisting of military personnel, including commandos. The SC bench comprising Preethi Padman Surasena, Achala Wengappuli and Mahinda Samayawardhana dismissed the petition without taking it up for hearing.

The former President, in a rights petition, challenged the National People’s Power (NPP) government’s decision to reduce his security contingent to 60 personnel. The war-winning President alleged that the reduction had been done without proper evaluation.

The SC took up the case on February 6 and reconvened yesterday to review the petition.

Former Minister and President’s Counsel Ali Sabry appeared for the former President who filed the case on January 24.

Members of the Cabinet were named as respondents.

The former President alleged that his fundamental rights had been violated by depriving him of security provided by the military.

Rajapaksa, who played a key role in ending the country’s nearly three-decade-long war, expressed concerns about ongoing threats to his life, including potential terrorist threats.

The former President requested the Court to determine that his fundamental human rights were violated by the arbitrary reduction of his security contingent.

Opposition MP Ravi Karunanayake raised concerns in Parliament on Tuesday (18) about the potential impact of US President Donald Trump’s trade policies on Sri Lanka’s key export sectors, such as textiles, apparel, rubber, coconut, and plastics. With the US set to implement new trade policies, Karunanayake questioned whether the government was prepared to step up its negotiation efforts, particularly given the country’s fragile economic situation.

Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, responded by assuring Parliament that Sri Lanka had already initiated steps to minimise the adverse effects of Trump’s trade policy. According to Dr. Fernando, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Washington had engaged in negotiations with US authorities.

The Labour Minister emphasized the importance of the strong bilateral ties between Sri Lanka and the U.S. and expressed hope for a successful outcome through continued engagement.

Karunanayake, however, urged the government to take more proactive steps, especially as Sri Lanka is still recovering from its economic crisis. He suggested that the country’s negotiation skills could be further strengthened to secure special accommodations from the US government under President Trump’s policies.

“We must focus on avoiding the imposition of tariffs, especially given the delicate state of our economy. Can we not step up our negotiation skills and seek a special arrangement with President Trump and the US government?” Karunanayake asked, stressing the need for a diplomatic solution to safeguard Sri Lanka’s exports.

He raised a number of questions regarding the potential effects of the US trade policies on Sri Lanka’s textile and apparel exports, which are vital to the country’s economic growth. With a target of USD 8-10 billion in export revenue by 2030, a significant portion of Sri Lanka’s exports are directed toward the US, a major trading partner. However, Karunanayake expressed concern that President Trump’s “de-globalization” approach, which uses tariffs as a strategic tool to address trade deficits, could hurt Sri Lanka’s competitiveness in the US market.

Karunanayake also asked the government if it had assessed the impact of potential tariff hikes by the US on Sri Lankan exports and what steps had been taken to maintain and expand market access for Sri Lankan goods under existing trade arrangements, such as the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP).

He further inquired whether the government had explored foreign direct investment (FDI) opportunities or sought trade agreements with other countries to diversify export markets and reduce reliance on the US.

The opposition MP also posed several other questions aimed at understanding the government’s strategy for managing the evolving global trade environment and supporting Sri Lanka’s key industries.

In light of the looming challenges, Karunanayake suggested that Sri Lanka could make its textile exports more competitive in the US market by focusing on lowering production costs, potentially mitigating the effects of tariffs. He also called on the government to explore ways to facilitate strategic adjustments to Sri Lanka’s export strategies through policy interventions and support programmes.

With the uncertainty surrounding US trade policies, Karunanayake’s remarks highlighted the need for a comprehensive and proactive approach to protect Sri Lanka’s economic interests while fostering stronger trade relations with the US and other global markets.

By Saman Indrajith