Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has questioned if Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya did not know Sri Lanka’s Constitution, pointing out that the Cabinet of Ministers does not require the approval of state officials to make decisions. 

Addressing an event, the former President questioned PM Amarasuriya’s recent statement regarding his Cabinet’s decision to increase public servant salaries, which she claimed had not followed the necessary procedures.

“PM Harini Amarasuriya says that the approvals of officials from the Treasury and Finance Ministry had not been obtained to increase public servant salaries. She says that the approval of officials is important for the Cabinet to function. From where did you learn the Constitution?” he questioned.

The former President pointed out that the Cabinet governs the nation and in no place in the Constitution does it mention priority to officials. 

“If you want to know about the Constitution, let me know I will assist you, if not I can also inform our former Prime Minister,” he added. 

Ranil Wickremesinghe revealed that his proposal had been signed by several officials from relevant departments, such as former Presidential Secretary Udaya Seneviratne, Director of the Budget Office Jude Nilukshan, Director General of Combined Services S. Aloka Bandara, Director General of Institutions H. A. Chandana Kumarasinghe, as well as the Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and currently Advisor to the President Duminda Hulangamuwa. 

Displaying a document with the mentioned signatures of officials, the former President questioned what the Prime Minister meant by the former government not having obtained the approval of relevant officials.

Ranil Wickremesinghe added that this was why it was essential for seasoned politicians to be in Parliament, as the nation cannot be run by amateurs. (Newswire)

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Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe says that the legal Cabinet decision taken by him as Finance Minister to increase the salaries of public servants should be implemented immediately.

The former President said that if he had won the presidential election, he had planned to give the salary increase from next January, and if he could not give the salary increase, the government should immediately reveal where the money allocated for it is. 

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe made the remarks during a special discussion held today (Oct 23) with representatives of the State Employees Trade Unions. The discussion was held at the New Democratic Front office in Colombo.

The full statement of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe; 

I thought I would clarify the facts about the legality of our government increasing the salaries of public servants.  If we explain the cabinet decision we have taken to increase the salaries of public servants, we have done that work under Article 43 of the Constitution. We made the salary increase after considering the requests received from all public servants.

The demand for a salary increase is reasonable. By the year 2022, the value of people’s wages had decreased by fifty percent. They lived hard. They had to go into debt. Some people had to sell their property. In the early days when I took over, they were not in a position to give relief. I announced it to the country. Some asked to increase their salary by twenty thousand. 

In 2024, I increased the wages by ten thousand rupees. But that ten thousand rupees was not enough. When the value of money decreases by fifty percent, people will have problems. There are times when some children come to school without breakfast. Children in many families stopped attending tuition classes. Good or bad we need tuition classes today. I did not want these social systems to collapse. Accordingly, the Udaya Seneviratne Committee was appointed to look into the increase in government employee salaries. They were given three months to make a decision. But the committee gave the report before that. I asked the committee chairman Udaya Seneviratne about it. He also mentioned that since this is a big problem, it should be addressed.

I asked how much money would be spent on increasing the respective wages. When I asked the Treasury Secretary if he was able to give the amount he said that it was not possible to give that amount. The Treasury Secretary also informed us that our budget will not be able to support this amount. I told Udaya Seneviratne to inform me about the matter. I also told them to discuss with the President’s Secretary and find out how to increase the relevant salaries.

Later, they informed me that they had discussed and reached an agreement and that it was possible to give fifty percent in one year and the remaining fifty in the other year without giving the salary increase all at once. At that time, I first discussed with Saman Ekanayake who was my secretary.  I also discussed with my economic advisor Dr. Samaratunga and Finance Ministry Secretary Mahinda Siriwardena. In the end, we came to an agreement to give this salary increase. Even if we increase the wages as agreed, we will not be able to cover the disadvantage of the decrease in the value of the currency. But we knew that this decision would bring some significant relief. 

Accordingly, I presented the cabinet paper on increasing the remuneration of public servants. I signed that cabinet document as the president. Accordingly, this decision does not require comments from the Treasury.  The Cabinet can take any decision. We now generally operate according to the UK Cabinet Manual. 

It is stated that it is assigned to the Chairman of the Council of Ministers to summarize what the collective decision is and it is prescribed by the Secretariat of the Council of Ministers in notes. That means we don’t ask for votes to make a decision. The decision will be announced by the Chairman of the Cabinet.  It is mentioned in section 4:3. We have reported that decision. Article 4:7 states that it is for the incumbent Government to determine the specific arrangements for collective decision-making.

Sometimes we make decisions without papers. Opinions against the views of the minister in charge of the subject are obtained. I don’t think that my friend Vijitha Herath has been in a cabinet before. The decision taken by our government to increase the salaries of public servants is completely legal. A ministry is an organization. The organization has no laws. The ministry is headed by the minister under section 52 of the constitution. The Ministry is run by the Secretary under the order of the Minister.

As the Minister of Finance, sometimes when papers are sent to the Cabinet according to the Ministry’s proposals, I sometimes agree and sign them. If I do not agree with certain papers, I will give my opinion. As the President, when I sign the relevant salary increase resolution, I am not only signing as the President, I also do so as the minister of all ministries belonging to the President.

I presented this salary increase as the Finance Minister. When signing the relevant paper as the President, there is no need to submit letterheads as the Ministry of Finance again. It is legal to sign as the President. Accordingly, the relevant government employee salary increase should be paid. We can provide that salary increase. We have approved this salary increase only after due consideration. 

There is another matter that I have considered while giving this salary increase, which is the fact that we need to increase our state income from twelve percent to thirteen percent by next year. I have accordingly approved this salary increase. There is money to provide the relevant wage increase. If they say that there is no money, that is a strange story. The government should explain where the money to increase salaries is. 

Do not postpone this salary increase. Because the people are not able to live. If you can’t fulfil the promises made by the NPP, then fulfil the promises made by us. This government employee salary increase should be implemented in January. My idea was to pass this salary increase in December or the first two weeks of January, if I won the presidential election, and pay the salary at the end of January. Don’t try to delay this salary increase now. People should have money in hand to celebrate the New Year. 

This salary increase is legal. Now the civil servants have to take this fight forward. This battle is now in your hands. (Newswire)  

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Public Service Trade Unions have warned that if the authorities fail to address their demands within today they will convene in Colombo tomorrow (July 10) to decide on the future course of action.

The trade unions state they are not ready to give up following the two-day campaign and that they have agreed to convert the trade union action into a continuous strike.

The ‘Sick Leave’ campaign launched by 200 public sector trade unions, demanding a Rs. 20,000 salary hike and to revise the salary to Rs. 25,000 matching that of executive officers, continues for the second consecutive day today. 

The two-day trade union action was launched yesterday with the participation of the trade unions of postal, Grama Niladharis, surveyors, Samurdhi, District and Divisional Secretaries, and education officers. 

It is reported that most public offices are empty due to the strike action, with all the non-executive level services not reporting for duties today, severely inconveniencing the public.

General Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) Joseph Stalin said teachers and principals of all schools are engaged in the trade union action and have reported sick today, affecting the academic activities of school children.

He further said that, however, they are continuing the practical tests of the GCE Ordinary Level Examination.

Meanwhile, Postal employees have reported sick for duty, while only executive grade and administrative officers have reported for duty, resulting in the Central Mail Exchange and several main post offices closing.

The striking trade unions have requested the people not to come to receive the services of public institutions today. (Newswire)

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The Value Added Tax (VAT) will require to be increased from the current 18% to 20-21% if the striking public servants’ demand for a salary increase is met, Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana said. 

Mahinda Siriwardana further said the government is not prepared to fulfill this demand as it would burden the public.

At a meeting held today to address the demands presented by the trade unions, he emphasised that a salary increase this year is not possible. 

He added that however, the 2025 budget will consider revising public service salaries based on the expert committee’s recommendations on salary disparities

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), the Treasury Secretary made the remarks during a meeting held under the patronage of President Wickremesinghe at the President’s Office today.

Mahinda Siriwardana’s statement comes at a time when over 200 public sector trade unions have warned of engaging in a two-day ‘Sick Leave’ trade union action today (8) and tomorrow (9). 

Government officials across several sectors, including postal workers, surveyors, agricultural regulators, Grama Niladhari officers, development officers, and prosperity officers, are participating in the strike launched over several demands, including a salary increase. (Newswire)

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