• Substantial salary increases for public servants, ranging from 24% to 50%, along with performance-based increments and benefits, effective from January 2025.

The Sri Lankan government has approved significant reforms for the public service, set to begin in January 2025. These reforms include substantial salary increases for government employees, with a 24% to 50% hike based on factors such as educational qualifications, experience, and responsibilities. The lowest-paid public servants will see their basic salary rise to Rs.30,000, with a total salary of Rs.55,000 after including the cost of living allowance. Pensioners will also benefit from a revised cost of living allowance and an adjustment to unpaid salary increments for those who retired before 2020. These changes will be phased in according to the fiscal capacity outlined in the 2025 budget.

Additionally, the government plans to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the public service through a scientific work study in 2025, which aims to restructure the service and assess employee numbers based on actual needs. A performance-based system will be introduced, with annual salary increments and other benefits tied to Key Performance Indicators (KPI). The reforms also include a competitive recruitment process aligned with the Sri Lanka Quality Framework (SLQF) and National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ), aiming to reduce the public service workforce to around one million employees while ensuring high-quality service delivery to the public.

Govt sector salary increase between 24% to 50 % in 2025 | Daily News