News
Controversy over public sector salary hikes: Expert Committee Chief contradicts govt.’s claim
‘No harm in discarding our proposals if not acceptable to new leaders’
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Chairman of the Expert Committee on Public Service Salary Disparities, Udaya R. Seneviratne yesterday (17) contradicted cabinet spokesperson Minister Vijitha Herath declaration that the substantial public sector salary increase announced by the then government in the run-up to Sept 21 presidential election had not received proper approval of the Finance Ministry.
Retired SLAS officer Seneviratne who had held several top posts, including Secretary to the President during Maithripala Sirisena’s tenure emphasised that the relevant Cabinet paper had been presented by the then President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Finance Minister. “Therefore, there cannot be absolutely no basis for the new government’s claim,” Seneviratne said, pointing out both Director General National Budget and Director General Management Services were members of his committee.
The Island raised the issue with the expert committee Chairman in the wake of the government discarding the Seneviratne report.
Minister Herath told a post-cabinet media briefing on Tuesday (15) that the cabinet made an unilateral announcement without consulting the Finance Minister. Seneviratne said that he sincerely hoped the cabinet spokesman sought an explanation from the expert committee.
“In fact, Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Duminda Hulangamuwa who recently received appointment as Senior Economic Affairs Advisor to AKD government was a member of my committee. I’m sure, Hulangamuwa will be able to set the record straight,” Seneviratne said.
Seneviratne’s committee proposed that the basic salary of public service employees would be increased by a minimum of 24% for primary-level service categories. Salaries will gradually increase from an average of 24% to 50%, for all government officials depending on current fiscal feasibility, Seneviratne said, reiterating the need to increase public sector salaries.
Responding to another query, Seneviratne suggested that Deputy Secretary to the Treasury A.K. Senavirathna could explain the salary hikes proposals as he with the support of his team prepared them. “We provided the policy framework, Deputy Treasury Secretary and his team prepared the relevant proposals,” Seneviratne said.
The expert committee undertook the project taking into consideration the ongoing IMF-led programme in which debt restructuring was a key component, Seneviratne said. Whatever various interested parties say for their benefit or in a bid to undermine others, the country is not out of the woods yet, Seneviratne said, adding that the implementation of the salary proposals entirely depended on the new government’s ability to meet revenue targets as recommended by the expert committee.
Perhaps, the recommendations should be divulged by the government to pave the way for public discussions on the issues at hand, Seneviratne said that the JVP-led Jathika Jana Balawegala (JJB) couldn’t side-step the issue by declaring the previous cabinet acted sans Finance Ministry approval.
Seneviratne warned that the country should be prepared to face the consequences of possible delay in securing the next tranche of the IMF’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) due to the change of government and forthcoming parliamentary election. The former top official asserted that the powers that be and those contesting parliamentary elections should be aware of the gravity of the situation. “Do not forget that debt-repayment of foreign debt is on hold. But, it wouldn’t be fair to discard proposed salary increases and revenue proposals on false grounds,” Seneviratne said.
Commenting on massive local borrowings this month, Seneviratne said that revealed the developing crisis on the public finance front. Matale district SJB leader Rohini Kaviratne recently declared that the new government between Oct 02 and 15, had borrowed as much as Rs. 419,000 mn as it struggled to cope up with falling state revenue.
During the campaign the SJB, too, declared a substantial salary increase though the JJB refrained from doing so.
Seneviratne said that Rs.3,000 interim allowance that had been recently granted to pensioners, too, was proposed by his committee. The government couldn’t deny that, the ex-official said, urging President Dissanayake, who is also the Finance Minister, to seek an explanation from the Treasury regarding the status of the expert committee report.
Latest News
Heat index, is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Mullaitivu and Vavuniya districts
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 27 April 2025, valid for 28 April 2025
The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Mullaitivu and Vavuniya districts.
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated. Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.
Latest News
People have now started to think of themselves as Sri Lankans sans ethnic or religious divisions- PM
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that for the first time in history, mosques in Kandy had opened their doors to accommodate the needs of devotees visiting the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and that people have now started to think of themselves as Sri Lankans beyond dividing into ethnicities and religions.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing a public gathering held in the Paragahadeniya area in Kurunegala.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya further stated:
“This country is undergoing a transformation we expected,so accordingly, we must operate in new ways. People are beginning to feel that we must work towards a new transformation. We can see this change even within our ministries. These days, sometimes when we visit ministries even after 5 PM, and ask if it is possible to have discussions, the officials are always open. Today, public officials are willing to work late into the night, until 9 or 10 PM. Officials have now started working without fear.
Remarkably, for the first time in history, Muslim mosques in Kandy remained open throughout the night to accommodate pilgrims visiting the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. They even provided space for devotees to rest. There were no ethnic or religious tensions. What we saw was respect for other ethnicities and religions. This is happening because there is now a sense of a government that represents all Sri Lankan people, not just Sinhalese, Muslims, or Tamils”.
The event was attended by the candidates for the local government election including the residents of the area.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) has urged the NPP government to prevent Japan’s Onomichi Dockyard Company from selling its 51% ownership stake in the Colombo Dockyard Limited (CDL) to Indian government-owned Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai, a leading shipbuilder.
FSP spokesman Pubudu Jayagoda told The Island yesterday (27) that the move seemed to be in line with the overall India-Sri Lanka understanding on the basis of the recently signed memorandum on defence cooperation.
Against the backdrop of deteriorating financial situation, the Japanese company has informed the board of directors of CDL of its plans to divest its 51 percent ownership stake in the international shipbuilding and repair company. The Japanese shipbuilder made the announcement in early Dec last year.
Alleging that an agreement has been reached on the sale of Onomichi’s controlling ownership stake to the Indian ship builder, Jayagoda questioned
the move as Mazagon primarily built a range of warships and attack submarines. Jayagoda pointed out that according to Mazagon’s profile, the Indian government-owned business undertaking was involved with European companies engaged in ship and submarine construction.
Addressing a Local Government election meeting at Weeraketiya, Pallekanda, in support of those contesting the May 6 election on the ticket of Jana Aragala Sandhanaya (JAS), the executive committee member of JAS Jayagoda emphasized that in terms of the agreement between Sri Lanka and Japan, Onomichi couldn’t sell its stake without the Sri Lankan government’s approval. Therefore, the NPP government should intervene to halt the Japanese-Indian move, the FSP spokesman said while urging the parliamentary opposition to publicly oppose the planned sale of the Japanese stake.
Among other stakeholders are Sri Lanka Insurance, Sri Lanka Ports Authority and EPF.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Heat index, is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Mullaitivu and Vavuniya districts
People have now started to think of themselves as Sri Lankans sans ethnic or religious divisions- PM
Heavy showers about 100 mm are likely at some places in Central, Sabaragamuwa, Uva, Eastern and North-central provinces and in Vavuniya, Mullaittivu and Kurunegala districts.
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