Hon. Chanaka Madugoda

¶ 01 Mr. Speaker, COPE too has recommended that those employees be permanently placed in a suitable project. Hon. Deputy Speaker, though their service has been extended by six months, we request you and this Government to intervene to regularize the services of those men and women.

¶ 02 Health sector employees are also facing a serious problem. The Government has suspended their opportunity to take local and overseas leave for travel that they were entitled to under the Establishments Code. We request the Hon. Minister of Health to restore their leave entitlements for foreign travel and other duties that are due under institutional provisions. Many health workers had planned foreign travel long in advance; because of this decision, their economic and social affairs have been disrupted. We respectfully ask this Government to amend the circular that unlawfully removed the benefit of leave for 66,255 employees and to allow them again the opportunity to travel abroad on leave.

¶ 03 Hon. Deputy Speaker, one final point. The Spices and Allied Products Marketing Board functioning under the Ministry of Rural and Community Infrastructure has been closed by this Government. When this Government came to power, it said it would turn loss-making institutions into profitable ones and appoint capable officers to manage them. Therefore, we did not expect closures. This Board produced quality spices as a state entity and, through its outlets, enabled our beloved parents and the public to buy good spices at fair prices. Today, because of this decision to close it, that opportunity has been lost. This raises the concern that the Government is closing the Spices and Allied Products Marketing Board to strengthen wealthy private business interests by giving them space. Instead of closing it, if the Government established a sound administrative structure and strengthened the institution, it could have been taken forward. With those thoughts, thanking you for the opportunity, I conclude, Hon. Deputy Speaker.