The Minister of Agriculture and Plantation Industries Mr. Mahinda Amaraweera says that the decision to increase the salary of public employees was not because of the referendum but because the government had a plan to increase the salary from January 2025.
The statements made by some politicians as a false promise made by the government to increase the salaries of public servants are wrong. We have always discussed in the Cabinet that it is not possible to live on the current salary with the existing economic difficulties. Therefore, the government has decided to increase the salary of public servants and increase the cost of living allowance from 2025. We decided to announce that matter at the time of presenting the budget document.
But because the presidential election is going on, this year’s budget may be delayed. Minister of Agriculture and Plantation Industries Mahinda Amaraweera said that the government decided to increase the salaries of public servants as well as the cost of living allowance considering the problematic situations faced by public servants.
The minister expressed these views while addressing a women’s conference held in Agunakolapalasse yesterday (08). This women’s conference was organized for the victory of Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe and about 1500 women participated in it.
The minister who further commented-
A few months ago, a nationwide strike was started demanding higher wages. At that time, we as the government declared that it was not possible to increase the salary. The government said that as soon as the economic condition of the country improves, the wages will be increased from 2025. We never decided not to increase the salaries of government employees.
Now the country’s economy is good. The currency reserves in the country are strong. We are not minting new money now. If you do that, the country will collapse again. There is good money management in the government. Therefore, we are able to increase the salaries of government employees as well as increase the cost of living allowance. That is why we decided to increase the wages. Not only that. We provide concessions to many other sectors.
Especially the fertilizer subsidy for the farmers, as well as the price of fertilizer used for coconut, rubber, tea and cinnamon plantations will be reduced by 4000 rupees. Also, the amount of 15,000 rupees we gave to paddy farmers for buying fertilizer was increased to 25,000 rupees.
We are not doing all this for voting. This country is aiming to increase food production. The current President Ranil Wickremesinghe is the only presidential candidate who has such a work order. Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe is the only leader who has a short-term, medium-term and long-term plan to solve the problems of the people. Others offer political platitudes.
The minister also said that the public has understood well the best presidential candidate who has a real agenda for the development of the country.
On this occasion, former provincial council minister Mr. H. W. Gunasena and others participated.
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