He noted that Rs. 13 billion was paid additionally for the increase in state employee salaries. Accordingly, Rs. 107 billion was paid for state employee salaries for the month of April.

Meanwhile, the minister mentioned that the programme of providing ten kilogrammes of rice to 2.7 million families for the months of April and May will start on April 21.

State Minister Siyambalapitiya said that more than half of the total number of families in Sri Lanka are entitled to this subsidy.