President Sirisena said during the past three years, the government has taken steps to increase the salaries and allowances of Ministers and Members of Parliament several times and that he had firmly rejected proposals to increase his salary as the President himself. The President further said that it is not appropriate to increase the salaries of the ministers and MPs at the present time when the government is trying to find solutions for many problems, including the rising cost of living.

He made these remarks participating in an event to open the Pibidemu Polonnaruwa shopping complex at the Hospital Junction, Polonnaruwa, yesterday. The new shopping complex was built at a cost of Rs. 64 million to replace the shops demolished to construct the new four-lane road in the Polonnaruwa town.

Polonnaruwa Mayor Chanaka Ranasinghe, Chairman of the Thamankaduwa Pradeshiya Sabha Premasiri Munasinghe and the Chairman the Trade community Aruna Basnayaka and others were present at the opening ceremony.