Politics

The Sri Lankan government has decided to allocate an extra Rs. 220 billion in 2026 to support salary increases for doctors and all public service employees, according to Cabinet Spokesperson and Minister of Health Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa. This announcement was made during the weekly Cabinet media briefing on the 27th. The Minister indicated that the cost for these salary increases is projected to reach Rs. 330 billion in 2027. He mentioned that a salary raise was given this month to all doctors and public sector workers in Sri Lanka. To cover these basic salary hikes, the government will invest Rs. 220 billion in 2026. Minister Jayatissa clarified that Rs. 110 billion was used in 2025, with Rs. 220 billion planned for 2026, and Rs. 330 billion anticipated for 2027. He stressed that these amounts only pertain to salary increases, not the overall wage bill. “These raises are added to the base salary. Consequently, employees saw a rise in their basic pay in January, leading to increased overtime payments, higher overtime allowances, and bigger holiday bonuses,” he explained. The Health Minister also urged that such actions can only be taken considering the country's current economic situation, asking doctors and state employees to refrain from making excessive demands.