Lokuge takes a step back on Lalkantha’s demand..

Labour Minister Gamini Lokuge took a step back when head of the National Trade Union Center (NTUC) K.D. Lalkantha demanded that the government stop utilizing public funds to pay the electricity bills of ministers’ houses. Lalkantha claimed during the Jana Handa political debate on TNL TV that Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella’s March electricity bill for his house was over Rs. 120,000 and that it was borne by the public along with the electricity bills of other ministers. Lokuge after debating the issue finally agreed that the government should discuss and re-consider the payment of ministerial electricity bills with public funds. The non utilization of public funds to pay the electricity bills of ministers’ houses was among the demands put forward by the Coordinating Committee for a Joint Trade Union Alliance that called for a token strike on the 21st. Lalkantha explained that given the current financial crisis faced by the CEB, the government needed to take steps to increase the efficiency of the institution and cut down on its wastage and corruption instead of burdening the people.