Police, armed forces and prison officers to receive higher pay and allowances in 2027

Members of the Sri Lanka Police, the Armed Forces and the Prisons Department are set to receive further financial benefits in 2027, with the final phase of the public sector salary revision introduced in 2025 due to take effect alongside additional allowances proposed in the 2027 Budget.

The 2025 Budget increased the minimum monthly basic salary of public sector employees from Rs. 24,250 to Rs. 40,000, while the value of annual salary increments was raised by 80 per cent. The minimum annual increment consequently increased from Rs. 250 to Rs. 450.

The salary revision is being implemented in three stages. The first took effect in April 2025 and the second in January 2026, while the third and final phase is scheduled for January 2027. The Government has allocated Rs. 110 billion in the 2027 Budget to implement the remaining phase.

In addition, police officers will receive an extra monthly food and accommodation allowance of Rs. 10,000 from July 2027.

Rank-based salary increases for police officers who have completed five years of service will range from Rs. 3,048 for Police Constables to Rs. 23,187 for the Inspector General of Police.

Police Sergeants will receive an increase of Rs. 3,846, Inspectors Rs. 5,666, Chief Inspectors Rs. 7,350 and Assistant Superintendents Rs. 9,576. Superintendents will receive Rs. 12,185, Senior Superintendents Rs. 14,190, Deputy Inspectors General Rs. 19,951 and Senior Deputy Inspectors General Rs. 21,768.

Members of the three armed forces who have completed five years of service will also receive rank-based increases. These range from Rs. 3,321 for Lance Corporals, Able Seamen and Leading Aircraftmen to Rs. 26,950 for Generals, Admirals and Air Chief Marshals.

Sergeants, Petty Officers and equivalent ranks will receive an increase of Rs. 4,018, while Staff Sergeants, Chief Petty Officers and Flight Sergeants will receive Rs. 4,294. Warrant Officers and equivalent ranks will receive Rs. 6,099.

Among commissioned officers, Captains, Lieutenants and Flight Lieutenants will receive Rs. 11,812, while Majors, Lieutenant Commanders and Squadron Leaders will receive Rs. 13,303. Brigadiers, Commodores and Air Commodores will receive Rs. 19,952, and Major Generals, Rear Admirals and Air Vice-Marshals Rs. 23,187.

The daily food allowance for armed forces personnel is also proposed to increase by Rs. 315, while the allowance for other ranks will rise by Rs. 332.

Prison officers will see their monthly risk allowance doubled from Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 16,000 from July 2027. The allowance paid to civil officers serving in the Prisons Department will also increase from Rs. 2,250 to Rs. 10,000.

The Budget has separately allocated Rs. 9.5 billion for the digitalisation and modernisation of the Sri Lanka Police, including improvements to the National Police Academy, the Police Hospital in Narahenpita and the Police Training School in Attidiya.

A further Rs. 500 million has been allocated for feasibility studies and preliminary planning for a proposed 15-storey Criminal Investigation Department building in Colombo Fort. The facility is intended to strengthen investigative capacity in areas including cybercrime and financial fraud.