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Civil servants, doctors denounce salary delay decision
View(s):By Senuli Abeywickrema
Two leading public sector professional organisations are up in arms over the decision by the Government to delay the salaries of staff grade workers, citing inadequate revenue to meet expenses.
The Sri Lanka Administrative Service Association (SLASA) and Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) have called for talks with the Government of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
A cabinet paper was presented on January 16 by Finance Minister Ranil Wickremensighe, who is also president, to delay salary payments.
On Tuesday, the Cabinet spokesman Bandula Gunawardena announced that a decision has been taken to delay payment of salaries of executive grade state sector employees by “two or three days” or “even a week”, until the money becomes available, “ekathu wenakam, mey mudala”.
SLASA president Rohana de Silva said: “We fear that the economic fallout will worsen with time. Multiple means of managing the Government revenue to meet the expenditure along with debt management were the major matters of concern that were raised at the meeting that took place with the executive committee of the SLASA.” He said the group has called for negotiations with the President, the Prime Minister and the Treasury Secretary. The support of other professional alliances will be sought. “Strong trade union movements will be geared up against the whole notion if the Government does not lend an ear to our action plans with regard to mitigation of fundamental economic conflicts,” Mr De Silva said.
In light of this decision, employees who have bank installments to pay and credit card balances would be severely affected.
“The ongoing situation requires a delicate balancing act for banks, including abstaining from adding additional interest on past due loans steered by the Central Bank (of Sri Lanka) itself. Banks should be seen to be helping their customers navigate this environment, not just prioritising the bottom line,’’ he said.
“They also need to help clients grappling with price volatility to optimise funding and mitigate risks, plus, they need to manage operating costs and be prepared for multiple inflation outcomes until it all straightens out and contribute to resolving the shrinking economy and safeguard financial stability,” Mr De Silva said.
The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) sent a letter on Thursday, January 19, in defiance of the Government’s decision.
“While we are enthusiastic about the Government’s commitment to addressing the issues, we worry the proposed solutions won’t address the problem. Sri Lanka needs a drastic plan that can jump-start the economy. Measures will be taken to set up a large-scale protest campaign with our trade unions as well as the public if the Government fails to address our issues,” said the GMOA spokseman, Dr Chamil Wijesinghe.
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