Today in Parliament, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake explained adjusting ED/OT rates in the health sector by changing the denominator

Today in Parliament, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake explained adjusting ED/OT rates in the health sector by changing the denominator from 80 to 120—all to maintain an arbitrary 1:4 salary ratio.

⭕ This 1:4 ratio means top public officials can only earn 4x what entry-level employees make. Sounds fair on paper, but it creates a massive talent drain at leadership levels & specialized jobs where expertise matters most.

⭕ The math is simple: If you're talented and ambitious, why stay in Sri Lanka's public sector when private companies or foreign countries pay you what you're worth? This creates a self-selecting system of mediocrity at the top.

⭕ Singapore 🇸🇬, known for its rapid economic growth, achieved long-term stability and national excellence through public sector leadership. Decades ago, they recognized that attracting top talent to public service required paying ministers and senior officials competitive salaries—often higher than the private sector—to ensure competence and reduce corruption.

⭕ The ROI is undeniable. One brilliant policymaker in the right position can create billions in economic growth and thousands of jobs. The public benefit of paying for excellence is exponentially greater than the cost.

⭕ Meanwhile, Sri Lanka 🇱🇰 continues losing its brightest minds while maintaining "fairness" through arbitrary ratios. The true unfairness? Citizens suffer from suboptimal governance because we refuse to pay for talent.

⭕ For Sri Lanka to build an excellent public service, eliminating the 1:4 salary ratio must be a top priority. The full transformation would still take 30-40 years, but starting now means the next generation will inherit the functioning system we never had.

⭕ Until Sri Lanka recognizes that paying competitive wages for top talent is an investment, not an expense, we'll continue watching our best and brightest leave & not serve the people—while wondering why our institutions struggle to deliver results.

#SriLanka #PublicPolicy #Governance #SalaryReform