August 11, Colombo (LNW): Grama Niladharis in several parts of Sri Lanka have entered the second day of trade union action, with officers reporting sick and withholding their services in protest over unresolved demands.
The industrial action began on August 10 following years of dissatisfaction over the failure to revise the travel allowance paid to Grama Niladharis. The allowance, currently set at Rs. 600, has remained unchanged for approximately eight years despite rising transport costs.
The Federation of Grama Niladharis says the Government has yet to implement a decision taken by the Cabinet in 2024 to introduce a travel allowance based on the cost of 20 litres of fuel.
Federation President Nandana Ranasinghe announced the planned action at a media briefing in Colombo on August 9, saying repeated requests to address the issue had failed to produce the expected outcome.
Under the current protest, officers are submitting medical leave and declining to carry out their official duties. The union has said the action is being conducted across the island, raising the possibility of delays to a range of grassroots administrative services handled by Grama Niladharis.
The officers play a key role in local administration, including issuing certificates, providing official recommendations and assisting residents with various Government services.
Union representatives have indicated that the action is intended to pressure the authorities into implementing the long-pending allowance revision, while affected communities could face temporary disruptions to routine administrative work if the dispute continues.
