July 18, Colombo: Sri Lanka's Marxist party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) affiliated National Trade Union Center (NTUC) is to launch an awareness campaign to demand a Rs. 8,000 salary increment in line with the rising cost of living (CoL), at work places in the Colombo District from tomorrow (19) till the 30th of this month.

A senior member of the NTUC told ColomboPage that the first in the series of discussions would be launched tomorrow from the Colombo National Hospital.

He said the staff of the Colombo National Hospital would be made aware of the reasons for the demand made by the NTUC for a salary hike in the public sector and the specific need for a Rs. 8,000 increment.

"We hope to cover many public institutions by the end of the month. We first need to explain to the public sector employees why there is a need for a salary increment and why it should be Rs. 8,000," the NTUC member said.

NTUC states that according to Census and Statistics Department records, the CoL index that was recorded at 140.8 in 2006 has increased up to 217.7 in June this year, which is a Rs. 13,842 increase in the cost of living between 2006 and June this year. The government already pays Rs. 5,250 as a CoL allowance. When that amount is deducted from the total increase the balance is Rs. 8,592 and hence, the demand should be for a Rs. 8,000 salary increment, the union says.