The Public Administration Ministry said that a decision to increase salaries following the fuel price hikes which had resulted in the rapid increase in the cost of living would be a decision that would have to be put forward in parliament.
 
Ministry sources said that although unions had demanded for a wage hike it was difficult to determine if a wage increase would be made available to the public sector.

Meanwhile the Labour Ministry said that an increase in private sector salaries would have to be put forward to the National Labour Advisory Council and that a decision would be made accordingly.

Despite strong demands by unions to increase private sector salaries, Secretary Upali Wijeyweera said that no such demand had been made so far. He said the ministry had not received a request to increase wages from any of the unions.
 
Unions are demanding for a Rs.10,000 wage hike for public sector employees and 40 per cent increase in salaries for private sector employees to ease their burden from the increase in the price of goods. (Olindhi Jayasundere)