Ranil urges public sector to hold votes unless NPP commits to wage hike

Saturday, 2 November 2024 04:34 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Accuses NPP of reneging on its campaign promise to raise public sector wages
Claims party is dismissing Udaya R. Seneviratne report citing laws in it
Reiterates his Govt. allocated funds for wage increase despite current Govt. insisting he has not

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has called on State sector employees to withhold their support for the ruling National People’s Power (NPP) party unless it commits to implementing the wage increase recommended by the Udaya R. Seneviratne report.

Speaking at a National Democratic Front (NDF) gathering in Kandy, Wickremesinghe accused the NPP of reneging on its campaign promise to raise public sector wages. He claimed the party was dismissing the report’s proposal for a Rs. 20,000 wage increase in two stages by pointing out flaws in the report.

Wickremesinghe questioned why the current Government could not implement the wage hike now. He reminded attendees that he had established the Udaya R. Seneviratne committee in response to the NPP’s criticism that the Rs. 10,000 increase he had provided was inadequate. He insisted he had set aside funds for an initial Rs. 10,000 increase to be disbursed in early 2025, despite the Government’s denial of any such allocation.

“They are still refusing to grant this increment. Why can’t they provide it? In March, we issued a Rs. 5,000 increment, and arrears of another Rs. 5,000 are pending. I ask the Government: Are you prepared to grant this or not? I demand an answer,” he said, adding that the President, Prime Minister, and Cabinet Ministers had all criticised the report as flawed.

Wickremesinghe urged public sector voters to withhold their support until the NPP commits to the wage increase. “They pledged to raise wages and won votes, but now they are lying,” he claimed.

In response, the Government has maintained that any salary increase would be included in the 2025 Budget and implemented in 2026. Cabinet Spokesman Minister Vijitha Herath and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya have repeatedly clarified that Wickremesinghe has not allocated funds for an immediate wage increase before leaving office, and therefore, the increase can only be included in the next Budget. Herath accused the previous administration of making election promises without financial backing.

“The Government will review the Udaya R. Seneviratne report and will not deceive public servants,” Herath said this week, assuring that a salary increase aligned with the cost of living would be provided.

Sri Lanka’s public service comprises over 1.3 million employees, with the Government allocating approximately Rs. 1,200 billion for their salaries and allowances.