Jan 20, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government recently received the approval from the Cabinet of ministers to obtain an additional Rs. 2.8 billion from the General Treasury as additional salary benefits to the workers of the state transport sector.

The Cabinet has approved a proposal made by the Transport Minister Kumara Welgama requesting the additional money to pay the allowances granted to the workers of the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) under the 2013 budget proposals.

The SLTB employees staged a protest last month complaining that the Finance and Planning Ministry has not allocated sufficient funds for the SLTB in 2013 budget and requested the government to allocate Rs. 917 million to the SLTB to pay the employees' monthly salaries and allocate Rs. 1.2 billion to pay gratuities to the retired SLTB employees.

The Minister also received approval to purchase 200 buses with 33-passenger capacity at a unit price of Rs. 3.5 million. The Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee (SCAPC) has recommended the purchase.

The buses will be used to serve rural areas, according to the Government Information Department.