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Cabinet shoots down transport allowance for public servants

17 February 2012 12:57 am - 32     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Cabinet has turned down a request by Labour Minister Gamini Lokuge to give a transport allowance to public servants so as to cushion the burden caused by the increase in bus fares, sources said yesterday.

According to them, at Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting, Minister Lokuge had said that paying a transport allowance to public servants was better than giving a fuel subsidy to private bus operators.

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa was reported to have said that a fuel price increase would be of no use if concessions were granted to every sector.

However, Minister Rajapaksa said a monthly allowance of Rs.200 would be given to 400,000 households using kerosene oil for their lamps.

Minister Bandula Gunawardane said the increase in fuel prices and the imposition of an electricity surcharge should have been done in stages instead of burdening the people at once.

Minister Lokuge spoke of the need to pay gratuity to the employees of the two sugar factories acquired by the government.

In the absence of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Cabinet meeting was chaired by Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne. (Kelum Bandara)


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  Comments - 32

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  • Sadarana Kota Friday, 17 February 2012 09:02 AM

    What about Private

    xlntgson Saturday, 18 February 2012 01:59 AM

    Sri Lanka, O thy is the name for austerity; fairness; cushioning after!

    johnny Friday, 17 February 2012 11:52 AM

    The Private sector is not important. Firstly must satisfy the Public Sector come election time they are needed.

    johnny Friday, 17 February 2012 11:49 AM

    you must be joking, he is now inside a gold mine.

    johnny Friday, 17 February 2012 11:48 AM

    What about we self employed persons, what relief are we getting ? Its not this easy to get away.

    Fair N Square Friday, 17 February 2012 11:24 AM

    Well said... spoken like a true economist...

    Fair N Square Friday, 17 February 2012 11:23 AM

    Wonder who can bring in a bill to cut down on all teh ministers fleet of vehicles, secutrity guys, and other perks whiich is burden to the common man.. They just sit in the chambers and do nothing to the masses but fill their pockets and are a burden sto society....

    Siri Friday, 17 February 2012 10:44 AM

    dear Minister, are you joking?

    Ariya Friday, 17 February 2012 10:49 AM

    Absolute lack of knowledge of running a government in peacetime! Time to change the government, eh?

    Zahir Friday, 17 February 2012 10:46 AM

    Idiotic ideas, even after becoming fools.

    upul Friday, 17 February 2012 10:02 AM

    Private is secondary. First we must protect government servants. Otherwise who is going to govern ??

    willows Friday, 17 February 2012 09:55 AM

    good, let the idiots all we voted for these cabinet donkeys suffer for ever????

    Amila.G Friday, 17 February 2012 09:51 AM

    If these guys were in the opposition , They would have been the first to shout . But now they live off the state and give mundane excuses to the masses.

    imran Friday, 17 February 2012 09:36 AM

    1st Correct decision Taken by Cabinet in 2012

    Amila.G Friday, 17 February 2012 09:36 AM

    This country is totally mismanaged. More to come . We are getting hit from all sides ,But the ones in power , now or never.

    M.V.R.Perera Friday, 17 February 2012 08:53 AM

    why not stop the free electricity to cabinet Ministers

    Shankar Friday, 17 February 2012 01:17 AM

    They all are getting all the allowances know? So no need for public

    Silva Friday, 17 February 2012 09:01 AM

    Minister Bandula Gunawardane said the increase in fuel prices and the imposition of an electricity surcharge should have been done in stages instead of burdening the people at once

    So The Minister is Accetpting the People are beeing Burdened alot.

    WIll he resign since his confiramation

    Priyantha 77 Friday, 17 February 2012 08:18 AM

    This is shame. You tax private sector employees and try to give consesions to public sector only. Where is justice ?

    TBC Friday, 17 February 2012 07:10 AM

    Why is public sector asking for money all the time. dont they get a salary....
    how about private sector dont they travel?

    Gamlath Friday, 17 February 2012 06:32 AM

    Now people can see the stark reality of this goverment, there's nothing further this gov. could deliver for people. it's useless to control the price of US $ against the rupee, naturaly $ needs to float.

    Senior Citizen Friday, 17 February 2012 06:24 AM

    First of all reduce the number of MPs and Ministers. Then there won't be any need to subsidise their vehicles and their escort vehicles. These freeloaders are a burden on the generalPublic.

    Ravi Seneviratne Friday, 17 February 2012 06:18 AM

    What rubbish, Lokuge is trying to hoodwink the people by saying that he proposed a concesion . If the Government was so concerned about the public servents , they would hve considered this very much earlier.

    hema Friday, 17 February 2012 05:56 AM

    what about others , mean time ask government servants to work efficiently to reduce the cost incurred in there work to public .

    Nodrog Friday, 17 February 2012 05:28 AM

    But if proposed, transport allowance for MPs will be unanimously adopted.

    Sri lanka Friday, 17 February 2012 05:22 AM

    Why only public servants ???? what abt the other working people they are more than public servants

    wasim Friday, 17 February 2012 05:06 AM

    How about reducing number of unwanted ministers and their expenses...and spend that fund for public

    Mohamed Friday, 17 February 2012 05:04 AM

    Seeni bola kandata Rs 200. Goverment ministers are living in luxry life with all faciliteis including their children..Public only suffering.

    gajan99 Friday, 17 February 2012 03:21 AM

    Government does not have money to pay extra things like pay hike.

    Just Another Citizen Friday, 17 February 2012 02:44 AM

    How about reducing the number of luxury vehicles & escort vehicles? It's our money that's paying for it.

    Hoodwink Friday, 17 February 2012 02:36 AM

    The Dollar has shot up from average Rs 113 to Rs 120. On each dollar import the govt is bound to earn an increase in duty/Vat etc an additional percentage on the Rs 7 increase. Part the income thus earned could be set aside to cushion the impact on fuel price and other utility price increase.

    Herbert Friday, 17 February 2012 01:07 AM

    Why can't someone to propose an increase of fuel allowance to
    Cabinet Ministers and other politicians to coincide oil price hike


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