Dissenting view by senior minister

A senior cabinet minister yesterday expressed disappointment over the government’s failure to grant a pay hike of Rs. 2,500 to public servants.

“Many expected to get the Rs 2,500 pay hike. I am disappointed that this did not happen,” Senior Minister (Scientific Affairs) Tissa Vitharana said during the Budget debate in parliament.

He, however, said the drop in poverty levels and the growth in personal income levels as mentioned by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the Budget speech were encouraging.