Ranil exposes presidential advisor’s background, offers to teach PM
Posted on October 31st, 2024
Courtesy The Island
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Pannala on Tuesday showing documents carrying the name and signature of incumbent President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s advisor Duminda Hulangamuwa as a member of the Udaya Seneviratne Committee, which recommended a salary hike for the public servants during the previous regime. Pic by Nishan S Priyantha
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Tuesday said an advisor to current President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had been a member of the Udaya Seneviratne Committee, which recommended a salary hike for the public servants during the previous regime.
Addressing a rally held at Pannala in support of NDF members contesting under the ‘gas cylinder’ symbol, the former President said that President Dissanayake’s advisor Duminda Hulangamuwa had served on the Udaya Seneviratne Committee, which had recommended a salary hike for the public servants during the previous government.
Former President Wickremesinghe said: The decision to increase salaries for public servants was made after consulting all members of the Udaya Seneviratne Committee. All its members approved the salary hike. There is a possibility of increasing salaries and it should be implemented immediately.”
Responding to Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, who claimed that the previous Cabinet decision to increase public servant salaries had not followed the necessary procedure, Wickremesinghe displayed documents with the signatures of officials, including that of Hulangamuwa.
Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya has said it was necessary to obtain the approval of officials for the Cabinet to make a decision. It looks as if she is not aware of the Constitution. I can give her lessons on the Constitution if she is willing to learn,” he also said.
Wickremesinghe also questioned what had become of the NPP-led trade unions who fought for the rights of public servants during the past years.
The NPP had forgotten the public servants after their votes were secured. The NDF, however, would continue to fight until they got the salary increment meant for them, Wickremesinghe said, adding that a group of experienced candidates should not be voted in at the forthcoming parliamentary election.