Without a functional Cabinet, a severe issue has developed about the payment of salary for public sector personnel for this month.
It is not possible to obtain Cabinet clearance to print money to pay government employees’ wages since a Cabinet meeting cannot be scheduled within a few days.
After the Cabinet decision is transmitted to the Monetary Board, the legal capacity to issue money is given. According to Public Administration Ministry sources, it takes an average of Rs.29 billion each month to pay the wages of government personnel. However, as Acting President, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has the authority to summon an emergency Cabinet meeting to seek authorisation to print money.
According to reports, this condition has hampered gasoline imports because payments for fuel shipments cannot be done without Cabinet clearance.
