President Maithripala Sirisena has established a Special Agency to advise and assist the Government in the formulation and implementation of a National Wage Policy. 

The 23-member “National Salaries and Cadre Commission” has been established for a period of 2 years while the relevant Gazette (Extraordinary) was issued yesterday (March 03).

The commission will be conducting a carder assessment and review all remuneration structures including the salaries and wages in the Public Sector in order to facilitate due fulfilment of manpower needs in the Public Sector and the Private Sector as a whole, “aimed at enhancing efficiency and productivity of the Public Sector in duly achieving the aspirations of the people within the framework of good governance.”

The President has appointed K. L. L. Wijeratne as the Chairman of the Commission and Asoka Jayasekara as the Secretary to the Commission.

The commission is tasked with formulating innovative schemes to determine and adjust salaries, wages, annual bonus, various other incentives (such as new productivity, circle allowance etc.) of the public service in keeping with the current accelerated Economic Development Programme which is based on the concept of good governance.

It will recommend a suitable National Salaries and Wages Policy in order to prevent inappropriate competition that may arise in diverting manpower resources to the Public Sector Institution and the private sector.

The President has also abolished the National Pay Commission established by the Presidential Directive dated 31.10.2013 in terms of Article 33 of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.