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MPs call for abolition of collective agreement
Central Bank pay hike controversy:
By Saman Indrajith
The MPs who met a group of officials from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) yesterday found that the controversial salary increments of the CBSL workers had been based on a collective agreement. Some of the MPs argued that the collective agreement should be abolished.
The meeting with CBSL officials was attended by over 50 MPs of both the government and Opposition and commenced around 11.30 am at the Committee Room 2 and continued till 1.30 pm.
The CBSL officials made a presentation and the room was open for MPs to raise questions. They first met the party leaders and then the Committee of Public Finance members and MPs. The second meeting was also attended by officials of the Attorney General’s Department. The Speaker presided over the first meeting.
Chief Opposition Whip Kandy District SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella said. “I asked them to point out the legal provision for what they did and name a section or an Act of Parliament giving powers to them to decide their own salaries. They could not cite such provision,” Kiriella said.
The CBSL salary increments amount to around Rs 232 million a month. “I was the one who first raised this issue in the House. This morning, too, I demanded to know from the government what the standpoint of the Cabinet is because the summoning of CBSL officials to Parliament had been discussed at Monday’s Cabinet meeting.
The Cabinet ministers, too, have expressed their displeasure. At the meeting with CBSL officials, four government MPs spoke, and none of them approved of what the CBSL officials have done,” Kiriella said.
CBSL Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe stated that there were provisions in Sections 5, 8 and 23 of the CBSL Act for the slaries of the CBSL officials to be increased.
Kiriella pointed out those sections expressly made provisions for the expenses of the CBSL but not about salary increases. Section 23 stated about determining the amount of salaries provided that it is approved finally by Parliament.
SLPP dissident MP Gevindu Cumaratunga pointed out that the problem had been created by the government by passing a Bill to make the CBSL independent, but neither the Prime Minister, leader of the House, Chief Government Whip, nor the Finance Minister or State Finance ministers were present at this meeting. “We opposed this Bill and voted against this. Now those who created this mess are not present to question the CBSL officials,” Cumaratunga said.
Kiriella said that the government looked the other way when CBSL officials got their salaries increased. The government did not increase the salaries of professors, doctors, university teachers and other professionals, but kept silent when the CBSL officials got it done for themselves. The government must give answers. One of the CBSL secretaries told me that with the recent increment, she draws a monthly salary equal to ten times of the monthly salary of a ministry secretary. They collected money from tins and distributed it among themselves by barrels, he said.
Cumaratunga pointed out that the money handled by the CBSL officials were public funds therefore they are responsible to Parliament which has supremacy over the matters pertaining to the use of public funds.
TNA MP Sumanthiran, too, expressed the same view. He said that the CBSL did not earn money but uses the public money.
The CBSL officials responded that the salary increment was done as per the provisions of a collective agreement.
Gamapaha District MP Lasantha Alagiyawanna demanded to know from the CBSL officials whether that collective agreement was registered with the Labour Department.
MP Dayasiri Jayasekera said that a collective agreement to be valid should be registered with the Labour Department and became valid only after the Labour Commissioner gazettes it.
The collective agreement in question was neither registered nor gazetted, as such it is not a valid collective agreement, Jayasekera said.
As per Articles 148 and 149 (2) of the Constitution, Parliament had the powers over the use of public funds, he said, adding that the CBSL, too, was coming under that purview despite that there are wrong interpretations of the CBSL Act passed recently to give independence to the Central Bank. It is stated in that Act that money remaining in the Central Bank should be directed to the Consolidated Fund, and that meant the CBSL, too, come under the institutions responsible to Parliament.
Jayasekera said that the operations of collective agreements could be suspended. The operations of collective agreements in the CEB, CPC, and Harbour have been suspended.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
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