The Hon. K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, thank you for the opportunity. As we debate the expenditure heads of several important ministries, I am pleased to express a few views.

¶ 02 The Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government covers a vast institutional network. In the limited time, I will raise issues affecting officers serving under several institutions of this Ministry.

¶ 03 At the grassroots of the public sector, we all recognize our Grama Niladhari officers. They contribute significantly to both state functions and public services. They have, over a long period, requested allowances: fuel, communication, travel, and official attire. From what we know, in the last budget circulars only the official attire allowance has been provided; the expected fuel and communication allowances have not been granted. We request special attention from the Hon. Minister and the government to provide these. Given their field duties, fuel and communication allowances are essential.

¶ 04 Further, unlike most public servants who work five days a week and do not work on Saturdays, Sundays, or public holidays, Grama Niladharis are required by circular to work Saturday half-days and are often compelled to perform duties on holidays due to service needs and emergencies, with no compensatory allowance. At minimum, please include in this year’s budgetary provisions an allowance for work on holidays and for mandatory Saturday duty.

¶ 05 On another matter already raised by previous speakers and our Hon. Leader of the Opposition: the salary anomalies of Management Service Officers (MSO). As per Public Administration circulars, by letter dated 2021.08.11, a request was made to the National Pay and Carder Commission to implement their salary recommendation. However, it has not materialized. We ask the Hon. Minister to rectify the MSO salary anomaly and provide relief.

¶ 06 Also, recruitment to the MSO post is via competitive examination at the central government level, but in Provincial Councils the same competitive method is not consistently followed. Please inquire into this and, if there are disparities, instruct Provincial Councils to follow the central method.

¶ 07 Time is short, but I must touch on local authorities. Numerous issues exist. Presently, the government side holds most local bodies; the opposition, including the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, holds only a small number. A key problem: revenue from their own sources—stamp duty, court fines, trade taxes, etc.—is insufficient for day-to-day and development work. Meanwhile, a proposal has come to recover 20% of salary expenditure from local authorities this year, rising to 40% next year, seemingly progressing to 100% in a few years. Many local bodies—such as Yatiyantota, Bulathkohupitiya, Aranayake in Kegalle District—cannot meet this. We propose a mechanism to provide relief to low-revenue local authorities.

¶ 08 Turning to the Ministry of Labour: workers and employees, when retiring and claiming their EPF/ETF, face repeated visits due to errors in names, minor discrepancies, or because institutions have closed and records are hard to obtain. In a digital economy, we should streamline this using the National ID as the anchor, digitize files and connect across institutions so workers can receive benefits quickly. I urge the Labour Ministry to expedite and modernize this process.

¶ 09 Finally, regarding plantation workers: we all supported increasing their daily wage. While Rs. 1,750 was demanded and you spoke of Rs. 2,000, currently they receive Rs. 1,550. The President said companies will pay Rs. 200 so it becomes Rs. 1,550, and then a further Rs. 200 as an attendance incentive—contingent on 25 working days. Please clarify whether the additional Rs. 200 is only if 25 days are worked, or per day attended. Do not mislead plantation workers.

¶ 10 Thank you, Hon. Deputy Chairperson, for the time.