Govt.’s eyes and ears on the warpath

On Tuesday, August 11th, 2026, Grama Niladharis (GNs), the lowest tier of state administration, initiated a sick-note campaign in protest against their meager transport allowance. This allowance, which stands at an inadequate Rs. 600, has remained unchanged since 2018. The GN Trade Union Alliance's Nandana Ranasinghe has threatened that the alliance will escalate its trade union actions unless the demand for an allowance equivalent to 20 litres of fuel is met immediately.

With 14,022 GN divisions nationwide, the Public Administration Ministry's data indicates that the actual number of serving GNs may be lower due to vacancies. Despite their perceived insignificance, GNs are the government's eyes, ears, and administrative presence at the community level. During the JVP's reign of terror in the late 1980s, several GNs were murdered, underscoring their critical role.

The GNs' request is reasonable, and there is no justification for the government not to grant them a substantial fuel allowance. Their demand aligns with the JVP-NPP government's promise to reduce the cost of maintaining elected representatives. However, the government's commitment to such promises appears to be fragile, as massive security convoys still accompany politicians, and their promises, like piecrust, are often broken.

GNs, despite facing criticism, perform various functions, including assisting law enforcement, collecting and maintaining economic, social, and cultural information, implementing government development programs, and providing administrative certification. Many of their functions can potentially be transferred to digital systems and local government institutions, given the rising Internet penetration and digital literacy.

However, over two-fifths of the population remains offline, and there are remote areas where digital services are inaccessible.

The GNs' ability to provide first-hand knowledge of local circumstances and community affairs is irreplaceable by databases and online services. Therefore, it is crucial for the government to appreciate their service and address their grievances. A dialogue between the protesting GNs and government leaders, such as President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Minister Bimal Rathnayake, who claims 'tons and tons of money' in the Treasury, could help resolve their issues without inconveniencing the public.