Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya said a salary commission will be established this year to address pay disparities within the principal service and several other segments of the public sector.

Speaking in Parliament on Friday (6), the Prime Minister said the proposed commission was expected to provide a sustainable solution to existing salary imbalances across public sector institutions.

She said extensive discussions had already been held with principals and principals’ associations regarding salary disparities affecting the principal service, and that the government was continuing consultations in search of a long-term solution.

Amarasuriya said the government policy was to appoint a salary commission this year to develop sustainable recommendations to address the issue.

She noted that recent salary increases had created disparities not only in the education sector but also in other public service sectors, adding that a comprehensive solution was needed.

“We are trying to resolve this through a salary commission. We expect to submit proposals specifically relating to the concerns of principals to the commission,” she said.

The post of Justice of the Peace will no longer be granted on political grounds, Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara said in Parliament on Friday (6).The Minister told the House that a mechanism had been introduced to receive complaints regarding Justices of the Peace (JP) and that an islandwide database of JPs was being developed to enable verification when certifying documents.

He said future appointments to the post would be limited to persons below the age of 75.

Nanayakkara said a system had also been introduced requiring bio-data updates every two years, along with certification through the Grama Niladhari Division – Sri Lanka and the Divisional Secretariat – Sri Lanka.

He added that contact channels, including a WhatsApp number, email address and telephone line, had been established to facilitate the reporting of any JP who commits an offence.

The Minister said authorities had not yet considered cancelling the appointments of existing Justices of the Peace en masse, noting that some had served in the role for five to ten years and had gained experience.

He said a committee had recommended the age ceiling, citing the need for appointees to possess adequate physical and mental capacity to comprehend and certify legal documents.

“I have not received any fair or justifiable reason to reconsider the age limit of 75 years,” he said.

The proposal to extend the State of Public Emergency was approved in the Parliament of Sri Lanka by a majority of 100 votes.

A total of 108 members voted in favour of the proposal, while eight opposition members voted against it on Friday evening.

Speaker Jagath Wickramanayake informed the House that the proposal submitted under Section 81 of the Public Security Act had been approved.

Meanwhile, the proposal under the Essential Public Services Act was also passed as presented.