Budgeted salary hike this month
Disna MUDALIGE
Five percent salary hike would be granted to all public sector
employees with effect from January as the President declared in his
Budget speech, said Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister W D
J Seneviratne.
Addressing a media conference at the Ministry premises yesterday the
Minister said Rs 600 added to the Cost of Living (COL) would also be
granted from this month.
“Accordingly, the salary of most of the public servants will be
increased by Rs 1500. The COL will be increased from Rs 5,250 to Rs
5,850. However, executive level officers will receive the COL addition
from July onwards,” he said.
He observed that the Government is facing difficulties to grant Rs
2,500 salary hike for all at once due to the sharp economic development
that is being carried out throughout the country.
He said rural economic development programs are being conducted for
infrastructure development.
However, the Government is committed to fulfilling the promises made
by the President in the Mahinda Chintana, he said. He said with effect
from January 2011, the pension would be also increased from Rs 2,375 to
Rs 2,675 as declared in the budget. He revealed that the Government will
introduce the pension scheme for private sector employees within this
year. The Minister said the age of retirement is 60 and the Government
has not taken any decision to bring it down to 57.
However, the Government took a decision not to extend service after
60 considering union demands and employee promotion problems.
He declined the recent reports that the Government was planning to
remove Poya Day holiday. He said the promised Rs 2500 salary increment
would be definitely granted for all public sector employees gradually
and the Government is highly interested in fulfilling this promise.
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