Internal Affairs, Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister Vajira Abeywardena said many officials working for local governments and provincial councils run the risk of going unpaid for the Sinhala-Tamil new year. 

Addressing a public event, Abeyawardena said the SLPP MPs who sought a division on the expenditure head on his ministry should be held responsible for this situation. 

"A decision was made at the party leaders meeting not to seek votes on expenditure heads during the committee stage of the budget," Abeywardena explained, adding that officials working for 09 Provincial Councils and 341 LG bodies might not receive salary advance payments before the new year. 

Meanwhile, addressing a press conference this morning, SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekera said even Minister Abeywardena was not present in the House when the expenditure head of his ministry was taken for vote last week. 

However, the government passed a supplementary estimate earlier this year, passing funds for all state institutions for four months. When contacted by Asian Mirror, informed government sources said the salaries and advanced payments of state employees for the month of April would be covered by the supplementary estimate.