Five-member Cabinet sub-committee to address salary anomalies

Saturday, 28 September 2019 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Committee to discuss with different sectors and submit report on Tuesday

By Chandani Kirinde

A five-member Cabinet sub-committee was set up last night after an emergency Cabinet meeting to inquire and report back by Tuesday on how to address the issue of salary anomalies in the State sector.

The committee comprises of Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Ministers Vajira Abeywardena, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Rajitha Senaratne and State Minister of Transport Ashoka Abeysinghe. Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam is also a member.

The committee has been tasked with discussing with different sectors including the railways department employees and submit the report Tuesday.

Railway unions have been strike since Wednesday demanding their salary alimonies be settled while several others sectors including teachers have struck work over issues.

Administrative service officers too have struck work over salary demands this week.

State Minister Abeysinghe told the Daily FT last night that that the ministers who were named to the committee were drawn from sectors where there has been strike action.

“President Maithripala Sirisena said that the strikes are intended to make the Government unpopular and wanted an awareness campaign to be carried out so people know that State sector salaries have been increased several-fold since this Government took office,” he said.