No provision in Vote-on-Account for wage hike-JVP

(November 04, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The opposition Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) on Wednesday dismissed President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s promise to raise public sector salaries by January 2010, calling it an attempt to mislead the people as no provision for this has been made in the Vote-on-Account (temporary budget).

“The Vote-on-Account was presented yesterday and there is no reference to a wage hike. Furthermore no supplementary estimate is possible as there is no budget presentation (so far) for 2010. The President is misleading the people,” JVP Parliamentarian Sunil Handunnetti told the Media.

The President told a trade union convention of the Sri Lanka Nidahas Sevaka Sangamaya (SLFP union) on Tuesday that salaries of the public sector will be increased from next January and urged trade unions to call off their proposed work to rule on November 11. JVP and JSS-affiliated trade unions in the petroleum, electricity, water and ports sectors are poised to this action next week in protest over a delayed wage hike.

-Sri Lanka Guardian