The Election Commission (EC) has condemned the announcement of the salary hike for the public sector during the Presidential Election period and has complained regarding the same to the Public Administration Ministry.

“The Government should not announce the increase of public sector salaries during the election period,” Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake told The Daily Morning yesterday (4) in response to a query on the EC’s response to the Government’s decision to raise public sector wages from next year (2025).

 “We don’t have money in our country; however, the Government seems to have sizable funds to increase the public sector salaries.” Ratnayake said that the EC condemned the announcement of the increase of the public sector salaries and had written to the Ministry of Public Administration in this regard.

These comments follow the Government’s decision to increase the public sector salaries 24-50% in January, 2025. This salary hike would not only benefit all public sector employees such as those employed in State universities, public corporations and regulatory boards, but pensioners as well. The Government also announced a pay hike for military personnel. It was also reported that President Ranil Wickremesinghe recommended doubling all salary increment values for Government employees every year.  

However, the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) raised concerns that the salary hike was an attempt to politically influence the 1.4 million State sector workers in the country. It is reported that PAFFREL stated that the proposed salary hike would cost the Government approximately Rs. 20 billion a month. However, PAFFREL also said that while a salary hike is necessary due to the economic conditions, using a salary hike to influence votes has to be condemned.