Presidential intervention sought to solve Samurdhi officers' problems

Chaminda Perera

COLOMBO: "Samurdhi Development officers have not received salary increments, promotions and allowances enjoyed by other government servants for 11 years, said All Island Samurdhi Development and Agricultural Research Production Assistants Officers Society President Kithsiri Gamage on Tuesday. He said they would resort to trade union action if the Government fails to give an ear to their problems soon.

Speaking at a press conference at Nippon Hotel, he said they have sought presidential intervention to sort out their difficulties by sending over 20,000 telegrams to President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The officers will organise protest campaigns in Badulla, Moneragala, Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya districts today and Ratnapura and Kegalle districts on September 21 urging the government's intervention into this matter.

"The problems and difficulties faced by Samurdhi Bank Officials have not been addressed yet," he said. "We have been striving to safeguard our rights through discussions since the Samurdhi Movement was set up.

We do not want to put the government into jeopardy in the midst of conflict the country is facing today," he said.

"We in the same vain request the Government to regularise the various funds such as social security fund operating under the Samurdhi Authority by setting up a machinery which could ensure that these funds are strictly utilised for Samurdhi beneficiaries' welfare." Funds deposited by the Samurdhi beneficiaries in the Samurdhi development banks are safe and they cannot be misused under any circumstances, Gamage said.

"He alleged that there are many instances where former Minister S. B. Dissanayake has misused these funds for the sole purpose of boosting his image during the 2004 parliamentary election.

"These egocentric acts would lead to deviate the Movement from its original objectives," Gamage said.

"The President in the Mahinda Chinthana pledged to appoint a commission to incorporate us into pensionable government servant category. But that has not materialised yet. The Samurdhi and Poverty Alleviation Minster says she has appointed a Commission to look into our problems, but that is an ineffectual committee."

"The Welfare Act brought forward by the previous UNP government despite our resistance, deprived the Samurdhi officers, beneficiaries of their rights.We appeal to the government to repeal this act which puts the Samurdhi Officers' jobs in danger."

He said the authority should expedite in settling problems of officers, the beneficiaries to achieve better results in the path of alleviation of poverty.

The society in a letter to the Samurdhi Minister requested to solve their problems soon. They said they would be compelled to take trade union action if a positive response is not received from the government.