Mar 13, Colombo: A trade union affiliated to Sri Lanka's state transport sector says that employees at Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) and their families are facing great difficulties due to government's failure to pay their salaries on time.

Secretary of the All Ceylon Transport Services Union, Sepala Liyanage in a letter to the President has stated that SLTB employees are being compelled to commit suicide as a result.

He has noted that a majority of SLTB employees have not received salaries for January and February this year.

He has explained that at a time when people are finding it difficult even to live with the salaries earned by them, not receiving salaries has had a drastic impact on the SLTB employees and their families.

According to Liyanage, SLTB employees would have no option but to commit suicide if the government does not make arrangements to pay the salaries on time, especially during the forthcoming New Year season in April.