Former finance minister Ravi Karunanayake has accused a majority of state sector officials of acting like terrorists by not implementing the decisions taken by the president and his cabinet.

They are to be blamed for pushing the country into a crisis and causing inconvenience and dissent among the public, the Colombo district leader for the UNP also said at a media briefing.

A majority of the 1.7 million state sector officials receive salaries, allowances and facilities, but do not perform their duties, he said.

Karunanayake asked if such a big state sector workforce is needed for the country, claiming the public has been burdened with taxes in order to maintain them.

They refrain from implementing the decision to raise the salaries and allowances of doctors and university academics in an attempt to prevent brain drain, he said.

Karunanayake added that the authoritarian conduct of state sector officials should be exposed.