Nearly half of govt. salary bill allotted for police, armed forces

Nearly half of the government’s salary bill has to be allotted for members of the police and the three armed forces, a survey has revealed.

Out of a total annual requirement of Rs. 694,910 million, as much as Rs. 339,400, or 48.8 per cent, has to be paid to them.

Professor of economics at Peradeniya Wasantha Athukorale led the survey, assisted by Prof. Prasanna Perera and Dr. Nandasiri Kihimbiyahetti.

Out of nearly 1.6 million workers in the state sector, police, Army, Navy and the Air Force account for more than 400,000, or one-fourth, of the total.

The next highest salary bill of Rs. 118,000 M is for the Health Ministry, followed by the Education ministry (Rs. 59,300 M) and Public Administration (Rs. 42,740 M)