Sri Lanka Parliament’s Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) rejected a request to give a 1 year service extension to People’s Bank General Manager Wasantha Kumara, COPE Chairman Sunil Handunnetti told Parliament yesterday urging Parliament’s special attention to implement the COPE recommendations.

According reports COPE Chairman had noted that the Finance Ministry and Public Enterprises Ministry have informed the Committee that they accept the COPE recommendation with regard to the service extension.

MP Handunnetti had told Parliament that the COPE is of the view that thie service extension must not be given and the common recruitment procedure adhered by all banks must be followed in appointing a suitable person as the General Manager of People’s Bank. MP Handunnetti had also told Parliament that the Finance Ministry has written to the People’s Bank Chairman asking to follow the recommendation of the COPE.

Reports quoted MP Handunnetti who said that there was a request to give a year’s service extension to Wasantha Kumara, who had completed 60 years and that Wasantha Kumara was recruited on contract basis in 2001 for a salary of Rs.100,000 and earns a salary of Rs 2.1 million as at now. Further Kumara had also obtained Rs.75 million as salary increment arrears. Meanwhile Leader of the House and Minister Lakshman Kiriella had also told Parliament that the Government accepts the COPE recommendations.

However, National Policies and Economic Affair State Minister Dr. Harsha De Silva had told Parliament that the Government should also pay attention to the salaries offered in the private sector to individuals with similar experience and qualifications.

“The Government needs to come to a common understanding on the payments to such officials in order to retain them in the public sector,” Minister Dr. De Silva had said.