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President Ranil Wickremesinghe said he was actively working to address the wage gap between sections of the public sector.
The President highlighted the country’s economic recovery and acknowledged that while Sri Lanka was beginning to get back on its feet, there was still a long way to go. He stressed the need for the trade union movement to adapt to the current changes and contribute to the country’s progress.
President Wickremesinghe made the remarks yesterday (29th) at the ‘Leslie Devendra Sinhavalokanaya’ ceremony held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall in Colombo to mark the 60th anniversary of the career of Deshbandu Leslie Devendra.
In his speech, the president announced the creation of a “Workforce Hub” to facilitate discussions among professionals on how to drive national development and prepare the workforce for the future. He pledged to allocate government funds annually for the initiative.
Additionally, President Wickremesinghe outlined the government’s plans to strengthen the country’s financial institutions, including the banking sector. He noted that the government has been able to defer external debt repayments until 2027 in order to ensure financial stability. The President announced that new laws will be introduced to prevent political appointments from sitting on the boards of government agencies. He stressed that the country’s future depends on developing the economy through proper planning.
The President praised Deshbandhu Leslie Devendra for his significant contribution to the trade union movement and noted that he always recognised the social realities and embraced modernisation.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe also presented a memorial gift to Deshbandhu Leslie Devendra in recognition of his achievements.
President Wickremesinghe further stated in his speech at the event;
“Mr. Leslie Devendra joined the trade union movement in 1964, during the crucial period when the left parties united to form the United Left Front. The May Day rally at Galle Road was attended by prominent leaders such as NM Perera, Philip Gunawardena, SA Wickramasinghe, Peter Keuneman and Colvin R. de Silva, who witnessed this historic moment along with a large slogan-chanting crowd.
May Day 1964 was a memorable day for the entire country. However, just a few months later, another major event took place. The Sri Lanka Equality Party (LSSP) came to power in a coalition with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), leading to the collapse of the left-wing trade union movement. This marked the end of their cooperation with the major trade unions.
During the difficult economic period of 1970-1974, the unions also lost members. A new era began in 1977, marking the peak of government control of the economy, which lasted until then. Subsequently, a new phase of open economy emerged, which systematically transformed the trade union movement. The Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya emerged as the leading trade union.
In 1972, I had the opportunity to serve as the legal advisor to the Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya. Since then, many changes have taken place. Since 1989, global politics has shifted from competition between socialist and capitalist countries to globalization. Opening up the economy has brought about various changes, and we have adapted to these changes.
Today, there is little distinction between workers, contractors and owners, and remote working has become common, especially during COVID-19. The system has changed dramatically in Sri Lanka and globally, and unions must evolve with it.
Mr. Leslie Devendra recognized this reality and embraced modernization. Business practices have changed, reflecting the broader changes in the world and our country. Today, we operate in an open economy.
We must determine how to respond to the changing global landscape. The methods and rhetoric of 1964 no longer apply to our current environment. Therefore, we must all acknowledge the reality and prepare for the future. Specifically, we must prioritize the advancement of market economies and social justice simultaneously.
Different countries have adopted different strategies. The Scandinavian model, which has been adopted by countries like Germany, the Netherlands and Japan, is one example. China has adopted similar economic principles. As a country, we have reached a similar juncture.
Our country is currently coming out of a difficult period. Our economy was on the verge of collapse. Judging by how our people celebrate festivals such as the Sinhala New Year and Vesak Day, it is clear that the country is gradually returning to normal. However, this progress is not enough. We have only just begun to recover and progress. There is still a long way to go, and it is vital to remember this.
We have made a strategic decision to defer debt repayments until 2027, with a focus on renegotiating repayment terms to extend to 2042. Our goal is to protect the country’s economy from collapsing under the debt burden. However, dependence on imports may require further borrowing, which prompts us to prioritize repayment strategies.
In addition, we chose to limit domestic borrowing, which affected the availability of funds for institutions such as the Employees Provident Fund. This prompted people to consider whether to invest domestically or internationally, sparking discussions within the trade union movement.
We recognize the critical role that the financial sector plays in economic development and are committed to strengthening key institutions such as the People’s Bank, Bank of Ceylon and the National Savings Bank while maintaining government ownership. In addition, we aim to ensure government influence over limited liability companies and private banks to support the financial sector and drive economic growth.
In addition, we intend to legislate to depoliticize board appointments in government agencies to create an enabling environment for national development. We must reassess our development trajectory because Sri Lanka’s future depends on economic development.
We are well aware of the plight of our citizens and have also noted the rising poverty rate, which has soared from 15% in 2019 to 26% currently. Addressing this challenge requires a concerted effort to provide livelihood opportunities and improve educational opportunities for all sections of society.
So we agreed to reduce it to 10% by 2032, which is the IMF loan condition. So we have to stick to this plan.
To address widespread poverty, we have initiatives such as granting inheritance rights and providing land titles. We are also working to transfer ownership of apartments in Colombo to existing residents, ensuring that assets are created for those who do not own a home. We must adopt new thinking in this regard.
Economically, we have just started to recover and now we have to make further progress. This year, we have arranged a Rs 10,000 allowance for government employees and are working to increase wages in the private sector.
Although we have limited financial capacity to offer additional benefits this year, we have decided to appoint a committee to address the pay gap across all public sector areas. The committee aims to offer some benefits to civil servants next year. We are currently appointing appropriate members to the committee.
The road ahead is full of challenges. Ordinary people have been hit the hardest by this economic crisis, and we must move forward together.
Specifically, we will establish an employee center that will focus on forming new unions, protecting employee rights, and identifying effective methods. To sustain this work, the government will allocate a budget every year. We will continue to discuss these matters in more detail.
This is about moving the union movement forward, and the relationship between politics and the union movement and the future of independent work. Today, our country has reached an important milestone. We thank Mr. Leslie Devendra for his service during this period and say that we are ready to create a worker center to express everyone’s views and reach agreement, and provide government funding for this purpose.”
Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara;
“Mr. Leslie Devendra liberated workers from the never-ending struggle of “want” and introduced the concept of “thriving organization and satisfied workforce” to the union. Instead of leading the union to spend countless hours in street protests, he sought to resolve professional issues at the bargaining table. His efforts to take the union to the next level and cultivate a community of satisfied employees deserve great praise.”
Mr. Devendra can be described as a visionary union leader. With his modernist way of thinking, he guided workers to work in a way that would benefit the country’s economy. His work in protecting institutions and the economy was in stark contrast to some union leaders who advocated closing factories and disrupting the economy. We should all commend Mr. Leslie Devendra for his significant contribution.”
Deshabandu Leslie Devendra
“My journey to becoming a union leader started somewhat unexpectedly. However, after about six months, I discovered that helping others brought me great satisfaction, which motivated me to move forward voluntarily. The joy that comes from helping others is priceless and cannot be measured in money.
When I first got involved in unions, many advocated destroying the capitalist class. However, I disagreed with this approach. By observing how socialist regimes furthered the capitalist economic system after coming to power, I recognized the need to place workers within the framework of capitalism. Therefore, I strayed away from the rhetoric of dismantling capitalism and instead supported the idea that a prosperous company is a group of satisfied employees.
This transformation allows us to guarantee the rights of our employees and promote the development of productive institutions, making a positive contribution to the national economy.”
The event was attended by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna, MPs Gamini Lokuge, Dullas Alahapperuma, Dayasiri Jayasekara, President Union General Secretary Saman Rathnapriya and other political representatives, trade union leaders and distinguished guests.
(Presidential Media Department)
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