Delay in PSA Circular causing hardship to Education officials- CTU
View(s):The delay in releasing the circular by the Public Service Administration (PSA) regarding concessions granted to public officials for learning the second official Language, is causing much hardship to Education sector officials, the Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) claimed.
Despite a Cabinet decision to allow government officials to follow 100 hours of the Sinhala/Tamil Languages, in order to qualify for promotions and increments, a circular in this regard is being inordinately held back by the PSA.
The CTU said that, due to the inaction of the PSA, the time period allowed by the Cabinet paper expired on 30.06.2019. Following which, an extension of another 6 months has been obtained till June 30, 2020.
The Sri Lanka Administrative (SLA) Circular No. 2014/1 of 31.01.2017, requires Public Servants over 50 years, who do not have proficiency in the second official Language, to be given a concession to follow 100 hours of the Language.
However, as the numbers benefiting under this concession was few, the Sri Lanka Education Administrative Service and SLA Unions had requested for the extension of the facility to officials under 50 years of age.
A PSC Circular issued in 2014/1, requires all Public Servants, who joined the Service after 2007, have an Ordinary Level pass in Sinhala/Tamil Language, as the case may be. - CC