By Newswire Editorial

The Government Service Engineers’ Association has announced a nationwide token strike today (13), protesting the government’s failure to restore the Field Attendance and Transport (FAT) Allowance through the 2027 Budget.

In a statement, the association said a further nationwide strike and large-scale protest campaign will be launched on Monday (16) if its demands remain unresolved.

The association is demanding the restoration of the FAT Allowance at Rs. 75,000, taking into account the prevailing economic conditions and expenses incurred by engineers performing field duties.

According to the association, the allowance had been provided to officers of the Sri Lanka Engineering Service since 2012 but was discontinued in 2024.

It claimed that despite an understanding that the allowance would be restored through the 2027 Budget, the government had completely disregarded its request.

The association’s Executive Committee has therefore decided to launch a series of trade union actions, including withdrawing from all field inspections and duties performed outside normal working hours.

Engineers will also boycott District and Divisional Coordinating Committee meetings, meetings involving provincial authorities and politicians, and official opening ceremonies.

The association further announced its withdrawal from all bid evaluation and procurement committees as part of its continuous trade union action.

A special media briefing is scheduled for 12.00 noon today at the Trade Union Building on Professor Stanley Wijesundera Mawatha in Colombo 07 to explain the planned actions.

The Government Service Engineers’ Association warned that the trade union measures would continue indefinitely unless the government provides an immediate solution to its demand for the Rs. 75,000 allowance.

It further warned that the government would have to accept full responsibility for any disruption to development projects across the country resulting from the trade union action. (Newswire)