The Salary Review Committee chaired by Tissa Devendra was a representative committee consisting of eminent and recognized persons representing varied professions and salary groups. It carried out its studies and deliberations in a very professional and systematic manner through varied committees and listened to representations from trade unions and professional organisations.

The existing salary anomalies were carefully studied and they finally came out with a report containing recommendations which, while giving salary increases to all groups, also attempted to remove existing anomalies and incorporate all interim allowances in the revised salaries.

Instead of implementing these recommendations at least in stages, the government has proceeded to make ad hoc salary adjustments which are increasingly causing an imbalance in the whole public service salary structure. Recent ad hoc and hasty salary adjustments in the health and other sectors have resulted in confusion and creation of greater anomalies which have repercussions on other sectors and groups.

The salary adjustment made in respect of doctors was, in particular, a hasty one done without careful study and unmindful of the many anomalies it was going to create. The subsequent strikes in this sector are largely a result of these adjustments done in haste.

The government has announced a salary increase with the next budget. It is hoped that the salary adjustments will be done on the basis of the recommendations contained in the Tissa Devendra Salary Review Report. Any deficiencies in particular salary scales could be subsequently examined. Giving interim allowances, as has been done in the past few years is not going to solve the problem, but will only be a patchwork solution.