JVP trade union leader and Anuradhapura District parliamentarian K. D. Lalkantha said that by reducing the Cabinet of Ministers to 20 from the present 110 and on cutting down on wasteful expenditure of the Government it would be possible to increase the salaries of public servants by Rs 10,000.

He agreed with economists that under the present style of governance it would be impossible to effect salary increases

The JVP MP said this in answer to a question raised by a journalist while addressing a meeting at the CTC Hall in Anuradhapura.

He said that the main cause of worry is the heavy taxes imposed on essential food items.

"During the caretaker government period between the Presidential election and the next parliamentary election several emergency measures would have to be taken to minimize sufferings of the masses. Soon after the election of General Sarath Fonseka taxes on several items would be considerably reduced and instead taxes on unnecessary imports would be increased.