Grama Niladhari (GN) officers’ unions stressed that they remain ready to launch an indefinite strike if the Government gazettes the amended GN Service Constitution, which they claim neither reflects the GN officers’ demands nor provides solutions to their issues.

“None of the GN unions agree with the Service Constitution. We have put forward our suggestions. However, none of them have been incorporated into the Service Constitution. We will not accept this Service Constitution that does not include our suggestions. If the Government gazettes this, we will launch an immediate, indefinite strike,” the GN Trade Union Alliance’s Co-Convenor, Jagath Chandralal, told The Daily Morning yesterday (9).

He added that although President Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed that the allowance hikes sought by GN officers be provided, the Public Administration and Home Affairs Ministry has informed that increased allowances can be provided only through the next Budget (for 2025). In a context where a Government change is likely by that time, the GN officers expressed doubts that there is a possibility that their demands may not be fulfilled as was promised by the Ministry. Chandralal questioned as to why GN officers are being treated differently in the State sector, pointing out that officials of various other sectors, including those of the Executive grade, have received allowance hikes with effect from 1 July. Hence, he requested allowance hikes for GN officers as well with effect from 1 July.

According to GN unions, at present, the monthly transport allowance provided to GN officers is as low as Rs. 600.