President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has announced another public sector pay rise from January 2027, lifting the starting salary of a teacher to Rs. 65,000 and of a doctor to Rs. 94,000.
He told a public rally in Nikaweratiya on Sunday that the government had already raised public sector salaries through its first budget and would make a further increase at the start of next year.
The President also said the government plans to recruit 121,000 new public sector employees, including teachers, police officers and Grama Niladhari officers. He said recruitment would be through examinations and interviews, not political appointments.
He added that allowances for Grama Niladhari officers, Pirivena institutions and teacher trainees would also be increased.
For public servants and their families, the announcement sets out the pay levels the government intends to apply from January. The President did not give details of the allowance increases in his remarks.
