Minister Nalinda Outlines Plan for Salary Increase for Government Doctors

 Minister Jayatissa emphasized that these salary hikes are a significant relief for doctors, noting that they will receive increases in basic salary, additional duty allowances, holiday allowances, annual salary increments, and tax exemptions. He described the doctors' strike as "unfair" given the generous adjustments made to their compensation.

Dr. Jayatissa detailed the specifics of the salary adjustments, revealing that the basic salary for a doctor entering the public service will rise from Rs. 54,290 to Rs. 94,150, an increase of Rs. 39,860. After adding various allowances, the average gross salary for doctors will reach approximately Rs. 240,000. In the first phase of the salary increase, doctors will receive an immediate boost of Rs. 15,582 in April.

For second-grade doctors, their basic salary will increase from Rs. 58,305 to Rs. 101,370, a rise of Rs. 43,065. First-grade doctors will see their basic salary grow from Rs. 71,805 to Rs. 125,670, with an increase of Rs. 53,865. Meanwhile, junior specialist doctors, whose current basic salary is Rs. 88,000, will see an increase to Rs. 156,000, a rise of Rs. 68,000.

The Minister further clarified that these increments would be disbursed in phases, with a portion being received in April, and the remaining portions scheduled for January 2026 and January 2027. Over the next 20 months, doctors' salaries will see increases ranging from Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 68,000.

Despite the positive changes in their compensation, Minister Jayatissa stated that it was unreasonable for doctors to engage in industrial action. He called for a resolution to the issue, urging medical professionals to reconsider their decision in light of the relief provided by the salary adjustments.