Colombo, Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe has said government sector employees will not receive another pay rise this year, warning that further pay rises without proper planning could paralyze the government ahead of presidential and general elections.
The 75-year-old, who is expected to seek re-election as president, acknowledged the pressure on the economy and said previous programs providing increased benefits and allowances had depleted excess funds, the portal reported on Sunday. News First.
Wickremesinghe highlighted the salary increase of 10,000 Sri Lanka rupees and additional benefits implemented under the "Aswasuma" programme.
He stressed the need for fiscal responsibility and warned that further wage increases without proper planning could paralyze the government, according to the report.
Wickremesinghe, who is serving the remaining term of ousted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa from mid-July 2022, stressed the need to prioritize national stability ahead of the upcoming elections.
The president announced the formation of a committee to review salary adjustments. His recommendations will be incorporated into the 2025 budget, paving the way for possible pay increases next year, according to the report.
Wickremesinghe said his administration's approach will ultimately benefit the people and reiterated the importance of focusing on the upcoming elections, suggesting that other parties may not prioritize economic stability as effectively.
The next presidential elections will take place between mid-September and mid-October.
Wickremesinghe, who was prime minister when Rajapaksa was ousted in months-long public agitation on the streets, successfully led the country through the economic crisis that the Rajapaksa family blamed on the government.
Wickremesinghe, who is also Minister of Finance, put an end to queues to buy essential products, shortages and long hours of power cuts and obtained a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the process of which began during the Rajapaksa's last days. Sri Lanka, which received $2.9 billion during a four-year program from the IMF, had until then relied on generous Indian aid worth $4 billion.
Wickremesinghe intends to run as an independent candidate, supported by all political parties that are determined to maintain the economic reform program established by him.
The other two main opposition leaders, Sajith Premadasa and Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna party, have already announced his candidacy.
The 75-year-old, who is expected to seek re-election as president, acknowledged the pressure on the economy and said previous programs providing increased benefits and allowances had depleted excess funds, the portal reported on Sunday. News First.
Wickremesinghe highlighted the salary increase of 10,000 Sri Lanka rupees and additional benefits implemented under the "Aswasuma" programme.
He stressed the need for fiscal responsibility and warned that further wage increases without proper planning could paralyze the government, according to the report.
Wickremesinghe, who is serving the remaining term of ousted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa from mid-July 2022, stressed the need to prioritize national stability ahead of the upcoming elections.
The president announced the formation of a committee to review salary adjustments. His recommendations will be incorporated into the 2025 budget, paving the way for possible pay increases next year, according to the report.
Wickremesinghe said his administration's approach will ultimately benefit the people and reiterated the importance of focusing on the upcoming elections, suggesting that other parties may not prioritize economic stability as effectively.
The next presidential elections will take place between mid-September and mid-October.
Wickremesinghe, who was prime minister when Rajapaksa was ousted in months-long public agitation on the streets, successfully led the country through the economic crisis that the Rajapaksa family blamed on the government.
Wickremesinghe, who is also Minister of Finance, put an end to queues to buy essential products, shortages and long hours of power cuts and obtained a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the process of which began during the Rajapaksa's last days. Sri Lanka, which received $2.9 billion during a four-year program from the IMF, had until then relied on generous Indian aid worth $4 billion.
Wickremesinghe intends to run as an independent candidate, supported by all political parties that are determined to maintain the economic reform program established by him.
The other two main opposition leaders, Sajith Premadasa and Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna party, have already announced his candidacy.
