Colombo, Sri Lanka – The Minister of Trade, Cooperatives, and Food Security, Wasantha Samarasinghe, stated that the government took over a bankrupt nation five months ago and has since implemented the largest salary increase in the history of the public service.
Speaking during the third reading of the budget debate in Parliament, Samarasinghe emphasized that despite the economic challenges inherited by the administration, the government has successfully allocated 325 billion rupees over three years to facilitate this significant salary adjustment.
“This is the largest salary increase ever granted to public sector employees in our country’s history,” he asserted, highlighting the administration’s commitment to improving the livelihoods of government workers while managing the nation’s financial recovery.
The Minister’s remarks come as part of broader discussions on economic stabilization measures, with the government facing both praise and scrutiny over its approach to handling the financial crisis
While the salary hike aims to provide relief to public servants, questions remain about how the government plans to finance this increase, given the country’s fragile economic state. Economists and opposition figures have raised concerns about potential inflationary impacts and long-term fiscal sustainability.
As Sri Lanka navigates its economic recovery, the government’s ability to balance public sector welfare with broader financial stability will be closely watched in the coming months.
