Sri Lanka Opposition Leader asks for government's plans on salary increments

The leader of Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) Ranil Wickremasinghe today called for an explanation from the government as to why it has not released its plans on promised salary increments and providing relief to the masses.

Wickremasinghe told a press conference today that the government's commitment to the IMF has made it difficult for it to reveal its plans on salary increments and other concessions in the New Year.

He added that President Mahinda Rajapaksa in January 2010 had made a false promise to the public sector by saying their salaries would be increased within a year.

According to Wickremasinghe, the assets and wealth of former LTTE Chief Arms Procurer Kumaran Pathmanathan alias KP could have been utilized to grant a two-year salary increase to public sector employees.