The Hon. K. Kader Masthan

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, thank you for permitting me, under Standing Order 27(2), to raise a question with the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government.

¶ 02 The Government Translators’ Service began with the Official Languages Act of 1956. As stipulated in Chapters III and IV of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, and by authority of the Public Service Commission, the Government Translators’ Service was established under the Integrated Services Division of the Ministry of Public Administration to fulfill the constitutional and legal functions of official languages. In a multi-ethnic country like Sri Lanka, services like translation play a unique role in fostering mutual understanding and harmony. Another milestone was UN General Assembly Resolution 71/288 on the role of language professionals in connecting nations and promoting peace, understanding and development, and proclaiming 30 September as International Translation Day—conferring international recognition reflecting the value of multilingual communication.

¶ 03 Recommendations from the 1993 National Policy and Plan of Action on a Trilingual Sri Lanka, the Tissa Devendra Salaries Commission Report (2000), the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission Report, Cabinet decisions on Official Language Policy (19.06.1996 and 20.06.2013), the Adjournment Debate moved on 13.11.2014 by former MP Dinesh Gankanda, and the statement made on 06.12.2017 by the then MP and now Minister of Foreign Affairs, External Employment and Tourism, Hon. Vijitha Herath, as well as the current Ministers Hon. Sunil Handunnetti and Hon. Lal Kantha, and former MP Sathura Senarathna—all highlighted the need to strengthen the Government Translators’ Service. The NPP policy declaration “Prosperous Country – Beautiful Life” (page 231) also underscores its importance.

¶ 04 Despite this background, the Service now faces serious issues. Chief among them are the failure to recruit new officers, and the reluctance of skilled and experienced officers to remain. Causes include failure to grant timely promotions, salary anomalies, and lack of proper training opportunities. Matters have worsened because, contrary to Public Administration Circular 06/2006, the authorities failed to prepare a new Service Minute.

¶ 05 Although Public Administration Circular 25/2011 (dated 16.11.2011) instructed the Ministry of Public Administration to prepare Service Minutes for all services and obtain Public Service Commission approval by 31.12.2011, the authorities have still failed to prepare the Service Minute for the Government Translators’ Service. I therefore ask:

¶ 06 1. Do you, as the responsible Minister, have a proper understanding and appreciation of the critical role of the Government Translators’ Service in inter-ethnic communication, in promoting mutual understanding, and in communicating government policies and development actions to the public?

¶ 07 2. If so, do you acknowledge that unresolved service issues have persisted because your Ministry’s officials have, for 19 years, deliberately neglected to amend the Service Minute? If not, why?

¶ 08 3. What is your view on the fact that nearly two decades have passed without a proper Service Minute? How do you propose to ensure justice to those affected?

¶ 09 4. Do you accept that under Public Administration Circular 09/2004 (in force until 2006), the starting salary scale for Special Class Translators (TB 5.5.1) was eight steps higher than that of an Assistant Secretary, and that Class I Translators’ starting scale was TB 3.8.2—on par with Special Grade of the General Clerical Service?

¶ 10 5. Are you aware that, under the guise of preparing a Service Minute for over 19 years, officers were denied promotions and had to seek relief through a Fundamental Rights petition before the Supreme Court to secure Special Grade promotions? Will you now place all Special Grade officers on the salary structure they were entitled to under Circular 09/2004? If not, why?

¶ 11 6. Will you inform this House of the root causes for the continued failure to prepare a new Service Minute, and its impact? If not, why?

¶ 12 7. What urgent steps will your people-friendly Government take to resolve this issue?

¶ 13 8. Since the responsible officials have failed for 19 years, will you, under your leadership, appoint an independent committee that includes subject experts to provide a permanent solution without delay? If not, why?