Sept 17, Colombo: Trade unions in Sri Lanka have called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa to increase salaries of public sector employees by Rs. 13,442.50.

Head of the National Trade Union Center (NTUC), K.D. Lalkantha today writing to the President said the cost of living under the current administration had increased by Rs. 13,442.50 and that the salaries of the public sector workers should be increased by the same amount.

He states that the salary increment should be granted in the 2013 budget that is to be presented this November.

Last year the union leader asked for a Rs. 10,000 salary hike for public sector workers and a 40 percent pay increase for the private sector workers.

He notes that the President has failed to honor the pledge made to the working masses when assuming office that a salary hike in line with the cost of living would be granted.

"Due to the continuous struggles of the trade union movement, the government has on various occasions during the past six years had granted Rs. 7,609.50 to the working people. However, this does not commensurate the rising cost of living," the NTUC head noted.

According to Lalkantha, the executive committee of the NTUC has decided to take the initiative in the trade union action to win a salary hike for the working masses.