Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has pointed out that Duminda Hulangamuwa, who had functioned as a member of the specialists’ committee tasked to resolve the salary anomaly of the state sector, is currently an advisor to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Speaking during an event in Pannala yesterday (Oct. 29), he was responding to Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya who claimed that the previous Cabinet decision to increase public servant salaries had not followed the necessary procedure.
Displaying a document with the mentioned signatures of officials, Mr. Wickremesinghe questioned what the PM meant by the former government not having obtained the approval of relevant officials.
Assistance on constitution
The former President also pointed out that the Cabinet governs the nation and in no place in the Constitution does it mention priority to officials.
Mr. Wickremesinghe questioned whether Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya did not know that the Cabinet of Ministers does not require the approval of state officials to make decisions.
“PM Harini Amarasuriya says that the approvals of officials from the Treasury and Finance Ministry had not been obtained to increase public servant salaries. She says that the approval of officials is important for the Cabinet to function. From where did you learn the Constitution?” he questioned.
“If you want to know about the Constitution, let me know I will assist you, if not I can also inform our former Prime Minister,” he added.
