Central Bank salary issue: The ball is in Harsha’s court
The no-confidence motion against Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and the controversial increase in the salaries of Central Bank staff were among the highlights of Parliamentary activities this week.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and 43 opposition members signed the motion, which was handed over to Parliament's Acting Secretary General, Chaminda Kularatne. The motion is based on allegations that the Speaker failed to ensure that amendments proposed by the Supreme Court were included in the Online Safety Bill before it was passed recently and that the concerns of the opposition were ignored.
The opposition said they were expecting an early debate on the motion.
This week's sessions began with Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna's S.C. Muthukumarana taking his oaths as an MP to fill in the vacancy created by the resignation of Uddika Premaratna from the Anuradhapura district.
The Speaker started the week's proceedings, cautioning MPs over remarks they make about state officials in Parliament. He said that baseless statements and unfounded allegations were being made, and it was unfair by the officials as they were unable to reply.
He said that if officials were at fault, there was a procedure for summoning them before Parliament.
The issue of the salary increases of Central Bank staff figured prominently during the sessions.
Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya's (SJB) Colombo District parliamentarian, S.M. Marikkar, raised a question about Central Bank salaries and allowances and sought an answer from Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena while President Ranil Wickremesinghe was present. The President was present to make a statement on the current economic status (please see box).
Premier Gunawardena wanted to table the relevant salary documents, but MP Marikkar, a former journalist himself, called for a detailed response. Giving credit to his former leader, he said it was President Wickremesinghe who introduced the tradition of the Prime Minister responding to questions, and at that time, detailed responses were given.
Prime Minister Gunawardena made a few more attempts to table the documents, adding that the MP himself could read them. “Can’t you read from the document?" the Prime Minister asked. But Mr. Marikkar, not taking it as a response, insisted that the document be read out.
Eventually, the prime minister was forced to read out the document. Accordingly, details of the Central Bank staff salaries, including the existing salaries, the increases, the percentages, and the increased salaries, were read out.
According to these documents, an office assistant’s salary has been raised from Rs 145,000 to Rs 188,000, a 29.5 percent increase, while the salary of the Deputy Governor (Staff Grade) has been raised from Rs 976,662 to Rs 1,728,419, a 76.97 percent increase.
As Mr. Marikkar continued with more questions, President Wickremesinghe intervened and said they would await a report from the Public Finance Committee headed by Dr. Harsha de Silva to decide on the Central Bank salary issue.
Mr. Marikkar allowed SLPP MP Nalaka Godahewa, who is now supporting the SJB, to raise a question as to whether the independence given to the Central Bank should be reconsidered. A tongue-in-cheek response came from President Wickremesinghe. He said that by granting independence to the stock market, there was abuse, and Dr. Harsha would be able to shed light on that issue. Mr. Godahewa was once the chairman of the Securities Exchange Commission.
Opposition Chief Whip Lakshman Kiriella pointed out that the government cannot claim ignorance and say it was unaware of the situation, as when the bill was introduced to make the Central Bank independent, the government was aware of it.
Mr. Kiriella asked what the final decision was made after the Central Bank officials were summoned to Parliament and whether the salary increase would be granted or not.
Prime Minister Gunwardena said that depending on the report of the Public Finance Committee, the government would be taking a final decision.
State Minister Shehan Semasinghe also said they should await the report of Dr. Harsha de Silva.
Minister Susil Premajayantha said the wrong impression was being given that the salary increases were granted in terms of the recently passed Central Bank Act.
A heated debate erupted over the controversial salary increase of Central Bank staff members, with SLPP dissident Charitha Herath pointing out that an office assistant at the Central Bank draws a higher salary than the President’s Secretary and saying therefore amendments were needed to prevent arbitrary salary increases.
During the question-answer session, the issue of the shortages of teachers was raised, and Education Minister Susil Premajayantha explained again that it was due to pending court cases that the vacancies could not be filled. He added that the students were being held at ransom due to the delay in filling the vacancies for over a year.
He revealed that the allocation to provide meals for students had now been increased to Rs 16.3 billion, and accordingly, the per-meal cost was Rs. 110.
SJB's Dr. Harsha de Silva pointed out that the imposition of VAT on local software developers was unfair and needed amendments to protect the local industry.
The opposition was also not happy about the appointment of Irrigation Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi to head a select committee to probe the salinity barrier across the Nilwala River at Matara. The barrier was blamed for the recent flooding in the area. They objected because the committee was to probe allegations against the Irrigation Department, and therefore getting the Minister in charge of the subject was not correct. MPs Dullas Alahapperuma and Buddhika Pathirana urged that the post be given to an opposition member.
Opposition Chief Whip Lakshman Kiriella pointed out that the government cannot claim ignorance and say it was unaware of the situation, as when the bill was introduced to make the Central Bank independent, the government was aware of it.