(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – The government is paying close attention to provide Rs 5,000 from the proposed salary increase for government employees and Rs 2,500 to pensioners from next January, the Minister of State for Finance Dr. Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his 2024 Budget proposed to provide Government employees with an additional Rs.10,000 Cost of Living allowance. Of this sum, an initial installment of Rs. 5,000 was slated for disbursement in April 2024, with the remaining amount in October.
Minister of State for Finance Dr. Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said the government is working hard to pay half of the salary increase of 10000 rupees (Rs.5000.00) for the government employees mentioned in the budget proposals for the year 2024 and the increased amount of Rs.2500 to the pensioners from next January.
The Minister said that in a meeting chaired by the President, the President made a strong request to somehow arrange for this amount to be provided from January onwards, and they are proceeding accordingly.
Minister Siyambalapitiya pointed out that the government needs 6.5 billion rupees per month if the 5000 rupees allowance is given to government employees from January and 1.8 billion rupees per month to provide the Rs. 2500 raise to the pensioners.
However, the Minister said the government has already paid close attention to the collection of tax arrears due to state institutions including the Customs, and is expected to manage the income received accordingly to provide the increased salaries and wages.
