{"id":20101,"date":"2026-08-13T10:23:40","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T10:23:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/?p=20101"},"modified":"2026-08-13T10:23:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T10:23:44","slug":"mps-salaries-increased-rs-60000-misleading-claim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/mps-salaries-increased-rs-60000-misleading-claim\/","title":{"rendered":"Salary Hike or Hoax? Untangling the Viral Claims About MPs\u2019 Pay"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-medium-font-size\" style=\"background-color:#b6babf91\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.whatsapp.com\/channel\/0029Va5pj8o4IBh5WxNhlE0I\"> Subscribe to our WhatsApp Channel <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On 6 August 2026, MP Ramanathan Archchunan held up his salary slip in Parliament and said MPs\u2019 monthly pay and allowances had risen by Rs. 60,000. In a country where public anger over politicians\u2019 perks runs hot, the clip did exactly what you would expect: it lit up social media, and a string of false claims rode along with it. We investigated. Here is what we found.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Social Media Posts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Posts claim that MPs\u2019 salaries have increased by Rs. 60,000 appear below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"717\" height=\"696\" src=\"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-42.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20106\" srcset=\"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-42.png 717w, https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-42-300x291.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 717px) 100vw, 717px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"716\" height=\"803\" src=\"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-45.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20107\" srcset=\"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-45.png 716w, https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-45-267x300.png 267w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 716px) 100vw, 716px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"714\" height=\"830\" src=\"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-44.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20108\" srcset=\"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-44.png 714w, https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-44-258x300.png 258w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 714px) 100vw, 714px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/\">Facebook<\/a>&nbsp; |&nbsp; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/\">Facebook<\/a>&nbsp; |&nbsp; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/\">Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Fact Check<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What MP Archchunan Actually Showed<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The posts grew out of MP Archchunan\u2019s own statement in Parliament that MPs\u2019 monthly salary and allowances had risen by Rs. 60,000, to a total of Rs. 484,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/video.php?height=476&#038;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1303608464973433%2F&#038;show_text=true&#038;width=476&#038;t=0\" width=\"476\" height=\"591\" style=\"border:none;overflow:hidden\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowFullScreen=\"true\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/reel\/1303608464973433\/\">Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to the June and July slips he made public, his gross monthly income was Rs. 415,169.93 and his net pay, after tax and deductions, was Rs. 395,861.22, made up of basic pay plus allowances such as a phone allowance (Rs. 50,000) and an office allowance (Rs. 100,000).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Basic Salaries Have Not Been Increased \u2013 Deputy Minister Nishantha Jayaweera<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Deputy Minister of Economic Development Nishantha Jayaweera told Parliament that MPs\u2019 basic salaries have not been increased in any way. The real reason the slip figures changed, he said, is the fuel allowance: the government revised fuel allowances for all eligible state officials in line with current market fuel prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><iframe title=\"\u0db4\u0dcf\u0dbb\u0dca\u0dbd\u0dd2\u0db8\u0dda\u0db1\u0dca\u0dad\u0dd4 \u0db8\u0db1\u0dca\u0dad\u0dca\u200d\u0dbb\u0dd3\u0db1\u0dca\u0d9c\u0dda \u0dc0\u0dd0\u0da7\u0dd4\u0db4\u0dca \u0dc0\u0dd0\u0da9\u0dd2 \u0dc0\u0dd4\u0dab\u0dcf \u0daf? \u0db8\u0dd9\u0db1\u0dca\u0db1 \u0d87\u0dad\u0dca\u0dad \u0d9a\u0dad\u0dcf\u0dc0\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_GKlSyOrQ5M?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even Archchunan\u2019s own slip shows his fuel allowance rising from Rs. 179,707.93 in June to Rs. 244,300.46 in July, under the fuel-pricing formula. This applies not just to MPs but to all senior state officials entitled to the allowance; it is not a special salary increase granted to MPs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-15-1024x683-1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20105\" srcset=\"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-15-1024x683-1.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-15-1024x683-1-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-15-1024x683-1-768x512.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>SJB MP Rohana Bandara Said the Same<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Rohana Bandara, answering a question on Hiru TV\u2019s \u2018Balaya\u2019 programme on 6 June, said an MP\u2019s basic salary is Rs. 54,000 and it has not increased. He explained that the fuel-litre allowance had been misread because Archchunan travels from Jaffna to Parliament, he is among the MPs with the highest fuel entitlement, and what he showed was simply the monetary value of his 500-litre allocation at current fuel prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/video.php?height=476&#038;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1051655491065798%2F&#038;show_text=true&#038;width=476&#038;t=0\" width=\"476\" height=\"591\" style=\"border:none;overflow:hidden\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowFullScreen=\"true\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/reel\/1051655491065798\/\">Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>An MP\u2019s Basic Salary Has Been Frozen Since 2006<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An MP\u2019s basic salary (allowance) was last fixed at Rs. 54,285.00 in 2006 and has not changed for nearly two decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The November 2006 Parliamentary Resolution<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On 23 November 2006, Parliament unanimously passed a resolution pegging the basic salaries of MPs and Ministers to that of the highest-ranking judicial officer, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, setting it at Rs. 54,285. When Supreme Court judges\u2019 salaries were revised in 2018, a proposal was submitted to then-Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to raise MPs\u2019 basic salary by 215%, to Rs. 120,000, in line with the 2006 resolution. Intense public opposition and political instability forced the proposal to be shelved at the last-minute, and the basic salary stayed frozen at Rs. 54,285. Although public-sector pay has been revised several times since, no government has issued a new gazette or law to change MPs\u2019 basic salary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"853\" height=\"783\" src=\"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-46.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20104\" srcset=\"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-46.png 853w, https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-46-300x275.png 300w, https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-46-768x705.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, while the basic salary stays fixed, what actually drives up an MP\u2019s gross income is not the basic salary but the phone, office, and market-linked fuel allowances. Official Sri Lanka Parliament data confirms the basic allowance (salary) stands at Rs. 54,285.00, as shown below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"948\" src=\"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-43-1024x948-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20103\" srcset=\"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-43-1024x948-1.png 1024w, https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-43-1024x948-1-300x278.png 300w, https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-43-1024x948-1-768x711.png 768w, https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-43-1024x948-1-340x316.png 340w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How MPs\u2019 Salaries Can Legally Be Increased<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are two main mechanisms. First, through a Parliamentary Act or resolution: MPs\u2019 salaries and allowances are governed by the Members of Parliament (Emoluments) Act No. 4 of 1983, and any increase requires a resolution passed by a majority of MPs. Second, through alignment with public-sector salary circulars: because MPs\u2019 pay is pegged to senior state officials such as Supreme Court judges, their basic allowance updates automatically whenever a general public-service pay revision occurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What Else Changes the Figure on the Slip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although an MP\u2019s basic salary is Rs. 54,285, their gross monthly income exceeds Rs. 400,000 because allowances update on price formulas. MPs do not get a fixed fuel allowance; they are allotted a set number of litres based on the distance from their district to Parliament (for example, 283.94 litres for Colombo and 355.58 litres for Gampaha), paid at the Lanka IOC diesel market price on the first of each month. When market prices move or the government revises litre limits, the amount deposited changes automatically, with no new gazette or salary law required. The recent Rs. 60,000 changes on Archchunan\u2019s slip came from exactly this general fuel-allowance adjustment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The False Nalinda Jayatissa \u201cNews 1st\u201d Post<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A separate post claimed that Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said: MPs\u2019 salaries were raised due to rising inflation. Anyone who doesn\u2019t want it can opt out.\u2019<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/\">Facebook<\/a>&nbsp; |&nbsp; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/\">Archived Link<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our investigation confirmed that Nalinda Jayatissa, Cabinet Spokesperson and Minister of Health and Mass Media, made no such statement, in Parliament or anywhere else. Although the post posed as a News 1st bulletin, no such story appears on News 1st\u2019s official Facebook page. When we contacted News 1st Digital\u2019s manager, they confirmed that they had published no such story and that the post was a fabrication mimicking their official news format.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Join us to learn more about our fact-check investigations.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/FactCrescendo.LK\">Facebook<\/a>&nbsp; |&nbsp; <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/factcrescendo\">Twitter<\/a>&nbsp; |&nbsp; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/factcrescendo\/\">Instagram<\/a>&nbsp; |&nbsp; <a href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/\">Google News<\/a>&nbsp; |&nbsp; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@factcrescendo\">TikTok<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our fact-check confirms that MPs\u2019 basic salaries have not been increased. The basic allowance has stood at Rs. 54,285 since 2006. The Rs. 60,000 changes seen on MP Archchunan\u2019s slip stems from a market-linked fuel-allowance adjustment applied to all eligible senior state officials, not a salary increase for MPs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Deputy Minister Nishantha Jayaweera and SJB MP Rohana Bandara both confirmed this, and the claim that Minister Nalinda Jayatissa announced a salary hike is a fabricated News 1st-style post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<style>\n  \/* Modern Flexbox Container *\/\n  .fc-author-card {\n    display: flex;\n    align-items: center;\n    background-color: #ffffff;\n    border: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\n    border-left: 6px solid #e31b23; \/* Red brand accent line *\/\n    border-radius: 8px;\n    padding: 24px;\n    margin: 24px 0;\n    box-shadow: 0 4px 12px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);\n    font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\n    gap: 24px;\n    color: #333;\n  }\n\n  \/* Stamp Image *\/\n  .fc-author-card img {\n    width: 100px;\n    height: 100px;\n    flex-shrink: 0;\n    border-radius: 50%;\n    object-fit: contain;\n  }\n\n  \/* Text Content Wrapper *\/\n  .fc-card-content {\n    display: flex;\n    flex-direction: column;\n    gap: 8px;\n  }\n\n  \/* Typography *\/\n  .fc-card-content p {\n    margin: 0;\n    font-size: 16px;\n    line-height: 1.4;\n  }\n\n  .fc-label {\n    font-weight: 700;\n    color: #555;\n    text-transform: uppercase;\n    font-size: 13px;\n    letter-spacing: 0.5px;\n    margin-right: 5px;\n  }\n\n  .fc-title-text {\n    font-size: 18px;\n    font-weight: bold;\n    color: #111;\n  }\n\n  .fc-author-card a {\n    color: #0056b3;\n    text-decoration: none;\n    font-weight: 600;\n  }\n\n  .fc-author-card a:hover {\n    text-decoration: underline;\n  }\n\n  .fc-result-text {\n    font-size: 18px;\n    font-weight: 900;\n    color: #e31b23;\n    text-transform: uppercase;\n  }\n\n  \/* Mobile Responsiveness *\/\n  @media (max-width: 500px) {\n    .fc-author-card {\n      flex-direction: column;\n      text-align: center;\n      padding: 20px;\n    }\n  }\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"fc-author-card\">\n  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.factcrescendo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/False.png\" alt=\"Result Stamp\">\n  \n  <div class=\"fc-card-content\">\n    <p><span class=\"fc-label\">Title:<\/span> <span class=\"fc-title-text\">Salary Hike or Hoax? Untangling the Viral Claims About MPs\u2019 Pay\n<\/span><\/p>\n    <p><span class=\"fc-label\">Fact Check By:<\/span> <a href=\"mailto:info@factcrescendo.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pavithra Sandamali<\/a><\/p>\n    <p><span class=\"fc-label\">Result:<\/span> <span class=\"fc-result-text\">False<\/span><\/p>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?phone=94771514696&#038;text=Please%20type%20your%20Name%20and%20Language:%20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2481\" src=\"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Whats-app-sri-lanka.png\" alt=\"\"><\/a><\/figure>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Subscribe to our WhatsApp Channel On 6 August 2026, MP Ramanathan Archchunan held up his salary slip in Parliament and said MPs\u2019 monthly pay and allowances had risen by Rs. 60,000. In a country where public anger over politicians\u2019 perks runs hot, the clip did exactly what you would expect: it lit up social media, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":20102,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,27],"tags":[5930,5937,5931,1139,5929,5935,5933,3527,5544,5934,5913,5932,5936],"class_list":["post-20101","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-false","category-political","tag-000-increase","tag-5937","tag-basic-salary-rs-54","tag-fact-check","tag-fuel-allowance","tag-mp-salaries","tag-mps-pay","tag-nalinda-jayatissa","tag-news-1st","tag-nishantha-jayaweera","tag-ramanathan-archchunan","tag-rohana-bandara","tag-rs-60"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Salary Hike or Hoax? Untangling the Viral Claims About MPs\u2019 Pay - Fact Crescendo Sri Lanka English | The leading fact-checking website<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/mps-salaries-increased-rs-60000-misleading-claim\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Salary Hike or Hoax? Untangling the Viral Claims About MPs\u2019 Pay - Fact Crescendo Sri Lanka English | The leading fact-checking website\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Subscribe to our WhatsApp Channel On 6 August 2026, MP Ramanathan Archchunan held up his salary slip in Parliament and said MPs\u2019 monthly pay and allowances had risen by Rs. 60,000. In a country where public anger over politicians\u2019 perks runs hot, the clip did exactly what you would expect: it lit up social media, [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/mps-salaries-increased-rs-60000-misleading-claim\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Fact Crescendo Sri Lanka English | The leading fact-checking website\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-08-13T10:23:40+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-13T10:23:44+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/India-9.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1280\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"768\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Pavithra Sandamali\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Pavithra Sandamali\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\\\/english\\\/mps-salaries-increased-rs-60000-misleading-claim\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\\\/english\\\/mps-salaries-increased-rs-60000-misleading-claim\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Pavithra Sandamali\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\\\/english\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/6a01f2789633a4396c1d94875794ec06\"},\"headline\":\"Salary Hike or Hoax? 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