In a time when almost half of the country’s population is suffering from severe poverty and extreme hardship, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has undertaken a humanitarian mission to liberate the entire nation from this misery, stated Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa.
He mentioned that while the current government has considered state employees a burden on the country until now, they have suddenly deemed them important due to opportunism, attempting to deceive state employees with political gimmicks to retain power.
Those who once labeled the state service as a burden on the country are now engaged in a fraudulent promise scheme, Premadasa said, adding that the SJB does not make false promises but instead presents a concrete plan, which will be implemented once the SJB era begins.
Furthermore, a special commission will be appointed to revise the salaries of state employees in line with the cost of living, and the recommendations of this commission will be implemented.
From January 2025, the basic salary of all state employees will be increased by 24%, and the current minimum cost of living allowance of 17,800 will be raised to 25,000, thereby increasing the minimum wage of all state employees to 57,500, stated the Opposition Leader.
Premadasa further stated that the current tax policies are significantly affecting the working class, including state employees, and that currently, PAYE taxes on salaries range from 6% to 36%. He added that while maintaining the current tax-free threshold, these taxes would be reduced to 1% to 24%. (Newswire)
