Minister to resolve Agricultural Research Production Assistants’ problems

COLOMBO: Agricultural Development and Agrarian Services Development Minister Maithripala Sirisena has pledged to resolve all major outstanding problems and issues of Agricultural Research production Assistants including arrears of pay due according to Public Administration Circular 06/2006 and streamline service to ensure a better future for the country’s farm community.

This follows discussions the Minister had with a delegation of the All Island Agricultural Research Production Assistant Officers Society (AARPAOS) at his Ministry recently.

A press release by the AARPAOS said the Minister who gave a patient hearing to the representations made by the Society also agreed to expedite the payment of due salary increments to the production assistants and make provisions in the next budget for the payment of their office and travelling allowances from next year.

The Minister who agreed that an injustice had been caused to Agricultural Research Production Assistants in the Public Administration Circular 06/2006 as regards salary increments agreed to resolve this issue after discussions with the salaries commission.

He also agreed to amalgamate Grade 2 officers into Grade 1 of the Agricultural Research Production Assistants Service.

The Minister also agreed to strengthen Farmer Banks and resolve the problems of officials attached to such banks.

The possibility of granting promotions to Agricultural Research Production Assistants successfully completing agriculture courses and charning the procedure of fertiliser distribution to clear the problems encountered by Agricultural Research Production Assistants under the distribution process were also discussed at this meeting.