President offers extra Rs. 1,000 to public servants

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday agreed to pay all public sector employees an allowance of Rs. 1,000 and it was accepted by some trade unions though reluctantly.

The President made this offer after a lengthy discussion with several trade union leaders whom he met at Temple Trees and said the payment of this allowance would cost the government Rs 7 billion annually.

Sri Lanka Nidahas Sevaka Sangamaya President Leslie Devendra said the President had first offered an allowance of Rs 500 saying the war situation in the country had raised government expenditure, but subsequent to the Trade union representatives rejecting the initial offer the allowance was increased to Rs. 1000.

Mr. Devendra said his union was not satisfied with this allowance but were constrained to accept it considering the situation in the country.

Some trade union leaders said they had to first discuss the offer with their rank and file before accepting the President’s offer.

The Health Service Trade Union Alliance President Samantha Ratnapriya had told President Rajapaksa that his union would nevertheless go ahead with its planned agitation campaign to obtain the other demands including a resolution to the overtime issue.

Meanwhile The Trade Union Center convener K. D. Lalkantha said the offer of an allowance of Rs 1000 was a farce as the wages were to be increased by Rs. 375 from July and the Rs 1000 had been worked out by adding another Rs 625.

“Therefore this is nothing but eyewash,” he said adding that the trade unions centre will go ahead with the planned general strike on July 10.