The Hon. R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I move the following Adjournment Motion:

¶ 02 “During the war, Civil Defence personnel were recruited to protect border villages and performed duties at the risk of their lives. In recognition of their service, the previous Yahapalana Government regularized their employment.

¶ 03 However, they are now deployed outside their home districts. They receive the lowest pay among public employees. When serving away from home, they incur large expenses for food and lodging and are not paid any food allowance. I propose that necessary relief be provided to them.”

¶ 04 During the 30-year war, while our forces fought in the North and East, these Civil Defence personnel protected the border villages, with some sacrificing their lives. The Yahapalana Government established the Department, appointed a Director General, and used them to support the economy, including agriculture.

¶ 05 Now, many from Monaragala, Ampara, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura are sent to police stations far away, lodging in temples and eating from cafés, forced to spend their meagre salaries on basic needs, with nothing left. Normally, when public officers serve away from station, they get allowances; these personnel do not. About 28,000 serve; many have resigned because they can no longer tend their farms or livelihoods.

¶ 06 We request that suitably qualified personnel be absorbed into the Police. At minimum, when deployed away from station, they should receive the same allowances as police. Do not derail their lives; give them strength and relief.