The National Transport Commission has appointed 18 new timekeepers in a historic move that includes two women in the role for the first time. The recruitment drew around 2,000 applications.
The National Transport Commission (NTC) has completed its recruitment of 18 new timekeepers, marking a significant milestone by appointing two women to the position for the first time in the organisation's history. The appointment letters were distributed at a formal ceremony overseen by the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, with Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena, NTC Chairman P.A. Chandrapala, and senior officials in attendance.
The recruitment initiative attracted substantial public interest, with approximately 2,000 applications received for the available positions. Deputy Minister Gunasena attributed this high level of interest to an improved public perception of the government and the transport ministry. He noted that the role itself is expected to undergo significant transformation in the coming years as part of the ministry's planned digitization and reform agenda.
Regarding compensation, Gunasena indicated that timekeepers can expect monthly take-home pay exceeding Rs. 70,000 when overtime and allowances are included. However, he acknowledged concerns about adequacy, stating that the government does not consider current salary levels sufficient for family-supporting employment. The deputy minister signalled that the administration plans to introduce salary increment packages for state sector workers beyond 2027, with increases to be rolled out on a phased basis to improve compensation across the public service.
