The Department of Communication of Parliament has announced that officials from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) will be summoned to a party leaders’ meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 5th, at 10:30 a.m. There, they will face inquiries regarding the recent salary increase granted to CBSL employees.
This decision was reached during a meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business held earlier today, March 1st. The upcoming parliamentary sessions for next week are scheduled to run from Tuesday to Thursday.
The CBSL had previously requested the President, acting in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, for an opportunity to brief Members of Parliament regarding the recent salary increment, which had drawn criticism. The request, submitted in writing by CBSL Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, aimed to clarify the rationale behind the salary adjustment.
In a statement, the CBSL explained that the salary revision had been approved by the Governing Board under the triennial Collective Agreement with Trade Unions for the period 2024-2026. The statement emphasized that the CBSL is prepared to provide explanations upon being granted the requested opportunity or upon receiving a formal request for information.
In response to the situation, State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe suggested summoning CBSL officials before the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) to address concerns and provide clarifications regarding the salary increase.
Recent media reports highlighted that the CBSL had increased employee salaries by 70%, prompting criticism from parliamentarians across party lines.
