For the public sector Basic salary increased after 2016

•  Basic salary of lowest category PL1 will get Rs. 5,975 from April 1 this year 
• Basic salary of a Medical Officer MO category increased from Rs. 54,290 to Rs. 91,750  

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera   

Claiming that some people were spreading various rumours about the public sector salary increase, Deputy Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe said yesterday basic salary of the lowest category of the public sector PL1 will be increased by Rs. 5,975 from April this year as the first stage. 

 He told Parliament that some people have found it difficult to understand the salary increase as it is a proportionate increase whereas salaries were increased in earlier budgets by Rs. 5000 or so.   
He said basic salary of the public sector has not been increased for nine years since 2016 and that this is a historic salary increase.   
He said the basic salary of PL1 category is increased from Rs. 24,250 to 40,000 adding that Rs. 5,975 will be added to the basic salary from April 1 this year.   
“The 2,500 and 5,000 allowance given to the public sector will be added to the basic salary and Rs. 17,800 cost of living allowance will continue,” he said.   
The Minister said the basic salary of Grama Niladaris - GN1 will be increased from Rs.28,940 to Rs. 50,630 within three years and added that they will get Rs. 9,257 increase from April 1, 2025.   
He said Medical Officer MO category will get a basic salary increase from Rs. 54,290 to 91,750 while their increment from April 1 will be Rs. 13,988.   
“Overtime rate will be increased from Rs. 687 to Rs. 764 of Medical Officers,” he said.   
He said basic salary of a Development Officer will be increased from Rs. 37,260 to Rs. 63,440 and they will get salary increment of Rs. 10,606 from April 1, 2025.   
The Minister said the government has not played out when calculating the salary as claimed by some people.