Trade unions representing development officers plan countrywide protests on Monday demanding salary increases and the release of a Cabinet paper the government promised to address their concerns.

Development officers across state and provincial services will stage a one-hour protest on Monday afternoon, according to the Trade Union Alliance of Development Officers, which is led by the Frontline Socialist Party. The alliance is pressing the government to make public a Cabinet paper that officials said was prepared in June to resolve longstanding pay grievances.

Alliance General Secretary Dhammmika Munasinghe argued that salary increases implemented between 2025 and 2027 fail to keep pace with inflation and rising costs. He cited an international comparison placing Sri Lanka 120th among 130 countries for wage levels, based on data from the International Monetary Fund and International Labour Organization. Munasinghe contended that the government has repeatedly promoted the salary revision while downplaying the impact of higher taxes and increased prices for essential goods, fuel, and medicines.

The union leader questioned why public servants lack automatic salary adjustment mechanisms similar to those he claimed are provided to parliamentarians for fuel price fluctuations. He also highlighted that pension scheme contributions have risen from six to eight percent alongside the salary revisions, reducing the actual benefit to workers. Munasinghe urged the government to "not deceive the people" and called for transparent disclosure of proposed solutions.

The protest encompasses broader grievances beyond compensation, including union concerns over reported restrictions on social media use by railway employees. The alliance criticized disciplinary action taken against a railway union official who publicly stated that train services have declined by approximately 50% due to maintenance issues, characterizing this as an infringement on trade union rights.