News
AMS proposes suspension of ad hoc salary revisions, etc., to halt health sector strikes
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The government should temporarily suspend all ad hoc salary revisions and other corrective measures agreed with trade unions recently with immediate effect and review salary scales and grades of public servants in a uniform, fair, equitable and transparent manner on a scientific basis, Dr R. Gnanasekeram, General Secretary of the Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) said yesterday.
He told The Island that the government had lost the confidence of the public sector by granting concessions to some categories of workers in an ad hoc manner in the health sector.
Dr. Gnanasekeram asserted that lack of direction in general and poor fiscal management had aggravated the ill-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The General Secretary of the AMS added that what determined whether a trade union would win their demands or not depended only on the might and political allegiance of the trade union and not how reasonable their demands were.
“To win such demands, whom are they holding to ransom? It is usually the poorest of the poor who have already been battered by the pandemic. As public servants we must admit that we are among the least affected by the pandemic and resultant economic impact. Our salaries are paid in full whether we work or not. Even the transport is arranged at the expense of the state for some of us. Essentials were made available for us to be delivered to the workplace as an extra convenience. These are some of the privileges we have enjoyed as public servants during this period,” he said.
Therefore, public servants, as one of the least affected segments of the society, should be more mindful of our duty over rights, he said. Dr. Gnanasekeram said that AMS had analysed the current situation and believed that an urgent interim solution should be sought to prevent a lot more trade unions joining the strike bandwagon.
“We strongly recommend that all ad-hoc salary revisions and other corrective measures agreed with trade unions recently and promised to do in the near future be suspended with immediate effect until a concrete solution is worked out and revisit and review salary scales and official statuses of public servants in a uniform, fair, equitable and transparent manner on a scientific basis in consultation with experts in the salaries and cadre commission. If such remedial measures are not adopted, we wil be compelled to warn the government of facing a spate of trade union actions plunging the nation into absolute chaos.”
The government, under heavy Opposition fire over inclusion of a sex website in the Grade 6 English module, as well as overall education reforms, has decided to put on hold reforms in respect of Grade 6.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the government decision yesterday (13) at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Information Department.
According to him, the decision had been taken at the previous day’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dr. Jayatissa said that education reforms pertaining to Garde 6 had been put on hold until 2027.
The Minister said that other proposed education reforms would be implemented as planned. The Minister said that action would be taken against those responsible for the inclusion of a link to a sex website following investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Education Institute.
The SJB and several other political parties, as well as civil society groups, have accused the government of promoting an LGBTQ agenda, through the proposed education reforms.
The Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa, on Monday, made representations to the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter regarding the controversial reforms, while urging their intervention to halt the project.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (13) vowed to go ahead with his government’s agenda, regardless of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Emphasising the responsibility on the part of all to contribute to the post-Ditwah recovery efforts, President Dissanayake said that he would have complete faith in the public service.
The President said so at the launch of the re-building Sri Lanka project at the BMICH yesterday.
The JVP and NPP leader said that he wouldn’t take advantage of the death and destruction caused by the cyclone or use the situation as an excuse to reverse their agenda or weaken it.
President Dissanayake said that in spite of many calling for amending the then Budget, in view of the cyclone, the government presented the proposals that were agreed before the disaster struck.
The United States has announced that it will provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with 10 US Navy TH-57 helicopters free of charge.
The announcement was made by outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung, who stated, on social media, that the helicopters would be transferred under the United States’ Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft are Bell 206 Sea Ranger helicopters previously operated by the US Navy.
US sources said that the transfer was intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following the devastating cyclone that struck the island at the end of 2025 and killed more than 600 people. US officials have framed the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at improving aerial rescue and relief operations.
Showery condition over the island is expected to reduce from tomorrow (15th)
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Fair weather will prevail except for a few showers in the Uva, Eastern, Western and Central provinces and in Galle, Matara and Rathnapura districts
Trump cancels US-Iran meetings, urges protesters to take over institutions
Govt. bows to pressure, shelves Grade 6 reforms
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