The Chairman of the Expert Committee on Public Service Salary Disparities, Udaya R. Seneviratne said that the basic salary of public servants will definitely increase from 24 percent to over 50 percent from January 2025.
The minimum salary of Rs. 24,250 in the public service will increase by 24 percent and with all allowances, the minimum salary will increase to Rs. 55,000.
He said that the current cost-of-living allowance of Rs. 17,800 will be increased to Rs. 25,000 for all employees. Regardless of which Government is in power, there is a pressing need to increase the salaries of public servants. These proposals will address salary disparities, taking into account past trade union protests in the public service. The proposals have received approval from both the Cabinet and the Treasury.
At present, the number of salary categories in the public service, which are around 30, will be reduced to four categories. The committee has drawn up a mechanism to address wage disparities, he said.
Seneviratne said the public service plays a vital role in the development of Sri Lanka and is also the driving force of development. The restructuring efforts have been prioritised to address the current challenges in the public sector. The Presidential Expert Committee on Public Service Salary Disparities has presented a comprehensive program to create a satisfying work environment for public servants, delivering excellent service to the people, and positioning the public service as a key driver of economic development.
He said that action will be taken to provide the cost-of-living allowance of Rs. 12,500 each for pensioners from January 2025 and measures will also be taken to give the salary increment for Government officials who retired prior to 2020 and revise their pensions accordingly.
He said a scientific work study will be conducted in 2025 to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the public service and provide exceptional service to the public. This study will help draw up a comprehensive program to restructure the public service. A thorough assessment of the required number of employees will also be carried out based on this evaluation.
Appropriate performance indicators (KPIs) will be introduced for Government employees, and a system to grant annual salary increments based on performance progress will be developed. A mechanism to provide incentives and other non-financial benefits based on performance will be implemented.
He said the Government’s capital investment program for e-Governance will prioritise the digitisation and automation of the Public Service, with a focus on incorporating technology in every possible aspect over the next three years, starting in 2025. Special attention will be given to implement the e-Governance across Government ministries and institutions, beginning with Grama Niladhari offices.
Over the next three years, efforts will be made to restructure identified public institutions from their traditional departmental model- dependent on the General Treasury for many years- into an innovative enterprise model, he said.
He said measures will be introduced to optimise the delivery of certain Government services by outsourcing these services to external providers. This approach aims to reduce Government expenditure and encourage private sector involvement. It will help avoid unnecessary recruitment in the Public Service and enable private providers to offer more effective services. As a result, economic services will be expanded.
Additional Secretary to the President G.L. Vernon Perera acted as the Secretary of the expert committee. The other members were Jude Nilukshan (Director General, National Budget Department), Hiransa Kaluthanthri (Director General, Management Services Department), S. Aloka Bandara (Director General of Integrated Services), H. A. Chandana Kumarasinghe (Institute Director General), Dr. Terence Gamini de Silva (Retired Deputy Director General, Ministry of Health), Duminda Hulangamuwa (Chairman, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce), Chandi H. Dharmaratne (Chief People’s Officer) BCS International Technology (Pvt) Ltd and Isuru Thilakawardena (Deputy General Manager (Human Resources) Commercial Bank).
