Deputy Minister of Labour Mahinda Jayasinghe announced today (January 9) in Parliament that a significant salary increase for public sector employees is planned for the upcoming budget. He made this statement in response to a question raised by MP Ravi Karunanayake.
The Deputy Minister assured Parliament that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has not raised any objections to increasing the salaries of public sector employees, alleviating concerns about potential external restrictions.
In his remarks, the Deputy Minister added:
“We didn’t say Rs. 25,000. Let’s see about the exact number. Don’t panic. Open and see what’s inside the bag, don’t poke it and see. Ranil Wickremesinghe made a Cabinet decision before the postal vote on September 4, targeting the votes of public sector employees in this country. But the public employees gave a good response. It was something presented to deceive public employees, not the reality.”
The comment reflects skepticism about previous promises made by the government regarding public sector salaries, suggesting that some proposals may have been politically motivated rather than grounded in fiscal feasibility.
The final details of the proposed salary increase are expected to be revealed in the 2025 Budget, which will be tabled soon.
