Govt has granted many benefits to public servants - Minister Lakshman Yapa

COLOMBO: Responding to the JVP threat for tough trade union action, the Government yesterday said the matter concerning lending interest rates was discussed with 16 Trade Unions before a decision was taken.

Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, addressing the media at the Information Department yesterday said over 60 per cent of the public servants are eligible to obtain loans under the four per cent interest category.

He said: “The President chaired a meeting attended by 16 main trade unions where the decision was made,” adding it was unfair to resort to trade union action now.

“There were no concessions for the public sector during the UNP regime and it took a long time for them to grant the Rs. 1000 pay hike.”

“They stopped all recruitment to the public sector and introduced a premature retirement scheme to send serving State sector employees home. There was a major scaling down of jobs in the State sector.”

Minister Abeywardena said according to the new structure, the interest for the first Rs. 500,000 will be 4 per cent, up to Rs. 1,000,000, 8 per cent and above one million it will be 11 per cent.

Admitting that they were concerned about the Cost of Living, the Minister said the Government was taking measures to rectify the situation.

He said State employees received a 70 per cent pay hike plus duty free vehicle permits under this Government, which should be appreciated.