Govt’s pre-poll salary hike announcement sparks Election Commission’s scrutiny

• EC Chairman says his office would study the government’s step to see whether it would amount to inducement for voting
• We will stop any action by the government if it has any bearing on the presidential election

By Kelum Bandara

The government’s proposed salary hike for public servants along with the increased cost of living allowance is to come under scrutiny by the Election Commission to determine whether it will influence voting, particularly postal voting at the presidential election, an official said yesterday.  

Udaya Seneviratna, who is the Chairman of the experts committee on public service salary disparities, announced that the Cabinet approved a basic salary increase for all public servants from January 2025, ranging from 24 percent for lower grades and 24 percent to 35 percent for higher positions, based on qualifications, experience, and current roles.  

 He also said the cost of living allowance would be increased to Rs.25,000.  

However, Election Commission’s Chairman R. M.L. A. Rathnayake said his office would study the government’s step to see whether it would amount to inducement for voting.  

“We won’t stop every action by the government. However, we will stop it if it has any bearing on the presidential election. We will instruct how to do it then,” he said. 

According to the Election Commission 712,321 have qualified for postal voting at the 2024 Presidential Election.