JVP/NPP Govt. abusing public funds for political advantage

ON 14 November, the second reading of the Budget for the year 2026 was adopted in Parliament with a majority of 118 votes.

- By Kusal Perera

That is no surprise with the JVP/NPP having 159 MPs in the current Parliament. It was also no surprise to see three Opposition MPs representing the plantation sector voting for the Budget, with statements that they do so, in favour of wage increases promised by the Government for the plantation sector workers.

None would oppose wage increases to any sector in an unaffordable context with increases in cost of living.

What nevertheless needs to be clearly said and stressed is that, increasing salaries, adding allowances to the salary and any other increase to the take-home-pay is the sole responsibility of the “employer”. Salaries of Government employees are therefore decided by the Government as their employer, for which public funds are utilised. Payment of private sector salaries is the sole responsibility of the “private sector employer” with the Government only given responsibility to benchmark the national monthly “minimum wage” as policy.