News
Public servants given cash but no vehicle
View(s):In a move to save hundreds of millions of rupees spent on transport in the public sector, the Government is encouraging officers to use their private vehicles, by increasing the transport allowance – but the officers say the new allowance is not enough.
The Ministry of Public Administration and Management in a circular to government departments said the current monthly allowance for the use of private vehicles had been increased from Rs. 30,000 is revised to Rs. 50,000.
Ministry Secretary J. Dadallage said public officers could use their personal vehicles for official use in terms of the instructions in the circular. According to the circular, the vehicle which is used should have been registered in the name of the officer or his/her spouse to receive the transport allowance. The public officers getting the allowance will not be allowed to use state vehicles for official duty or personal work.
The new scheme is based on a budget proposal by Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake. He proposed the introduction of an“operational lease” for public officers’ private vehicles with the lessor bearing the maintenance expenditure, including insurance premiums and other fees in addition to the fuel allowance.
Noting the government spends hundreds of millions on the purchase and maintenance of vehicles, the finance minister said if the new procedure worked well, the state could upto Rs.10 billion a year. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Administrative Services Association Secretary Rohana de said they were unhappy over the new circular.
He said Rs. 50,000 was not adequate to maintain their vehicles if they were not given an official driver. “Without an official driver, it is difficult to bear the costs of the salary of the driver, insurance charges and repairs. We requested the Government to increase the amount to Rs. 100,000 to cover these, but that has not been done,” he said.