Rs. 5000 public sector pay rise

22 January 2015 10:01 pm

The Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said that the government employees’ salaries would be increased by Rs. 5,000 from the interim budget on January 29.


He added that this was in addition to the increase in the cost of living allowance for government-sector workers given by the Rajapaksa regime.


“Last budget’s increase was on the Cost of Living allowance. In our budget it would be a direct increase on the salary,” the Minister said.


He also said that there would be an additional salary increase of another Rs. 5,000 in June.


However, there was no increment on the salaries of private sector employees, Mr. Karunanayake said.


“If we force the companies to increase the salaries, the companies will have to close down. The Treasury does not have sufficient funds to finance a salary increase for private sector workers at this point.


“However, we are reflecting on this matter and we are bringing down the Cost of Living for all citizens significantly. We are trying to give the benefits to the people without a collapse in the economy,” he said.


“This interim budget will give people all the promised benefits,” Mr. Karunanayake assured. (Shihara Maduwage)