Pay-cut donation: PB’s personal plea

Punchi Banda Jayasundera, when he was Secretary to the Treasury, was once regarded as the financial brains behind President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government from 2000 to 2015. PB as he is fondly called, was most sought-after during times when a budget is presented in Parliament.

For five months now, he has been Secretary to the President. This week, he appears to have opened a Pandora’s box. This is by addressing a “private appeal” to state sector employees to forego to the state their monthly salary for May. This was sent on May 5 through the Prime Minister’s Secretary, Cabinet Secretary, Secretaries of Ministries, Provincial Council and Local Gover nment Secretaries, the University Grants Commission Chairman, all Vice Chancellors, heads of departments, corporations, and other state officials.

Here is a translated and edited text of the letter in English. The four page letter was written in Sinhala and widely circulated.

“……... It is commendable that the Health Secretary, DG Health and his staff, IGP, the Chief of Defence Staff, armed forces, PHI’s and other officials have played a major role in educating the public, carrying out quarantine work, treating patients and controlling the COVID-19 situation.

“The district and divisional secretaries and other state officials and those in the economic centres have been playing a major role in distributing agriculture produce from farmers to the people during the curfew period. It is also praiseworthy how Grama Sevakas, Samurdhi officials, and others have taken measures to distribute the Rs 5,000 allowance by the government to the poor families.

The COVID- 19 has shown us the economic lesson that the private sector cannot perform the duties of the state sector and that the state sector has given the leadership.

“The state sector which faced adverse situations during floods, landslides and the tsunami has been able to overcome the setbacks from COVID- 19 and keep the numbers affected low. I am writing to you not in the position that I am holding but with the experienced gained and with the need to develop the service and production sector and a strong economy overcoming poverty and natural disasters.

“The state revenue as well as foreign income has been dropping over the years with the international trade, exports and tourism sector dropping. Though the current crisis is for few months we should continue to honour our debts though local debt could be managed. The other sectors should be managed while absorbing this pressure.

“The basic requirements of food, electricity, water and fuel need to be supplied and I believe that the state sector will be able to manage this situation.

“The government requires Rs 100 billion per month to pay state sector salaries and allowances. We can reduce the budget deficit by reducing the expenses for May if the salary for a month is donated to the Widows and Orphans Pension Scheme by those in the state sector, corporations, statutory bodies, the Central Bank, insurance companies who do not pay taxes to the government. It will help to reduce the pressure on debt management. This could be considered a social responsibility project from the state sector. I believe this could be done.

“Like the loans and donations from overseas we also need to display our local strength. For this, I have informed my officers to donate my salary for May to the Widows and Orphans scheme. I will encourage others in the Presidential Secretariat to do so. I believe you could also encourage your staff to do so.

“Some may not be able to donate a month’s salary. Part of the months’ salary, a week’s salary or day’s salary may be donated. Currently no expenses are being incurred for transport, shopping, and other expenses.

“In the ancient days, our temples were built with similar donations. You may be able to strengthen the state sector which has gained honour and given leadership. Therefore, I am appealing to donate your salary for May or part of the salary.”

There were protests including employees from the state sector. One uncharitable name handed down to him in Sinhala, playing on his initials P referred to as Padi or pay and Bagey or half Jayasundera.

The letter also drew an angry response from Sunil Handunetti, former MP who was Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises ( COPE). He said in a recorded interview on television: ” Presidential Secretary P. B Jayasundara had issued a letter by using a letter head of the Presidential secretariat to make a personal request. He is making a personal request to government employees calling them to donate their salaries for May for the programme on eradicating corona.

“Can the Presidential Secretary make personal requests to state sector? Apart from that, copies of the letter have been sent to the Attorney General and the Auditor General. If we make any personal request, we will not send copies of that to the Attorney General and the Auditor General.”

The district and divisional secretaries and other state officials and those in the economic centres have been playing a major role in distributing agriculture produce from farmers to the people during the curfew period. It is also praiseworthy how Grama Sevakas, Samurdhi officials, and others have taken measures to distribute the Rs 5,000 allowance by the government to the poor families.