Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa – Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip

¶ 01 Increase of Salaries and Allowances proposed by Budget 2025 for Doctors: Statement by Minister of Health and Mass Media.

¶ 02 Hon. Speaker, it was announced by the Secretary of the Government Medical Officers’ Association that due to allowance cuts in this Budget, they would launch an island‑wide strike on March 5th. Some Opposition MPs, including the Leader of the Opposition, met them; media reported they described these cuts as a serious injustice and would speak against the Government. On 17 February, soon after the President presented our Government’s inaugural Budget speech, a leader of a certain nursing union announced a protest for March 6th. He had served as a Director‑General under President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Now, the GMOA Secretary says they will strike on the 5th and 7th.

¶ 03 Hon. Speaker, on doctors’ and specialists’ salary increases, let me report to Parliament. The scale and depth of the economic crisis over the past three years is well known. Doctors experienced the shortages — rising cost of living, commodity shortages, fuel and power issues, drug shortages, staff shortages, equipment shortages — yet they served. Some left the country; those who remained carried added workload and served the nation. For this reason, during the people’s struggle and subsequent elections, a large majority of these professionals supported the present political movement. Some small groups supported the previous corrupt regime and various political camps — that too is known.

¶ 04 For the first time in history, unexpectedly, our Government decided to increase salaries for all public servants significantly. Previously, even smaller allowance increases took prolonged, strenuous trade union actions. Despite that, now without such a struggle, we have given a tangible increase: we raise the basic salary, increase extra duty allowance, increase holiday allowance, increase annual increments, and in addition grant PAYE tax relief. I will now show how this adds up across grades.

¶ 05 Currently, a Preliminary Grade doctor’s basic salary is Rs. 54,290. With ED (extra duty) and PH (public holiday) allowances, an average doctor’s gross could be around Rs. 240,000. We will raise the basic to Rs. 94,150 — a Rs. 39,860 increase. In April, the first stage gives Rs. 15,582 of that.

¶ 06 Grade II basic rises from Rs. 58,305 to Rs. 101,370 (+Rs. 43,065). Grade I rises from Rs. 71,805 to Rs. 125,670 (+Rs. 53,865). A Junior Consultant’s basic rises from Rs. 88,000 to Rs. 156,000 (+Rs. 68,000). These increases are phased: a portion in April 2025, the next in January 2026, and the balance in January 2027 — within 20 months doctors receive Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 68,000 basic increases depending on grade.

¶ 07 There are many incremental steps; I highlight the basic movements. Some doctors have been misinformed by not being shown the full figures. Normally, in a Budget speech we cite the lowest grade increase. We said the minimum monthly basic for public servants goes from Rs. 24,000 to Rs. 40,000. For doctors’ grades similarly, for example: a Preliminary Grade doctor now on Rs. 56,960 basic goes to Rs. 98,950 (+Rs. 41,990); MO Grade II on Rs. 63,685 goes to Rs. 111,050 (+Rs. 47,365); MO Grade II on Rs. 69,635 goes to Rs. 121,770 (+Rs. 52,135); MO Grade I on Rs. 80,485 goes to Rs. 141,270 (+Rs. 60,785); MO Grade I on Rs. 86,995 goes to Rs. 152,968 (+Rs. 65,973); MO Grade I on Rs. 93,505 goes to Rs. 164,670 (+Rs. 71,165); MO Grade I on Rs. 100,015 goes to Rs. 176,370 (+Rs. 76,355); Senior MO on Rs. 104,355 goes to Rs. 184,170 (+Rs. 79,815). These basics are phased over three stages in 20 months.

¶ 08 On extra duty allowance: contrary to claims it is cut, we are increasing per‑hour rates from April. Preliminary Grade from Rs. 687 to Rs. 765; MO Grade II from Rs. 796 to Rs. 925; MO Grade I from Rs. 1,101 to Rs. 1,307; Junior Consultant from Rs. 1,302 to Rs. 1,542. So ED is not reduced; it is higher from April.

¶ 09 Holiday allowances also increase: Preliminary Grade from Rs. 2,714.50 to Rs. 3,138 (+Rs. 423.50); MO Grade II from Rs. 2,915 to Rs. 3,379; MO Grade I from Rs. 3,590 to Rs. 4,189; Junior Consultant from Rs. 4,400 to Rs. 5,200 (+Rs. 800).

¶ 10 Furthermore, annual increments increase. The President announced the Rs. 250 increment becomes Rs. 450 — an 80% rise. For doctors, increments of Rs. 1,335 become Rs. 2,400; Rs. 1,345 to Rs. 2,420; Rs. 1,630 to Rs. 2,940; Rs. 2,170 to Rs. 3,900, etc.

¶ 11 Illustratively, a Preliminary Grade doctor with a previous gross of Rs. 240,173 will have Rs. 258,887 from April, and Rs. 283,165 by January 2027. Someone on Rs. 257,870 will rise to about Rs. 310,307; on Rs. 309,995 to Rs. 382,877; on Rs. 352,740 to Rs. 448,400, and so on. This will be further enhanced by PAYE relief: thresholds have been raised. Those paying tax between Rs. 100,000 and Rs. 150,000 now get 100% relief; up to Rs. 200,000 about 72% relief; up to Rs. 250,000 about 62%; up to Rs. 300,000 about 47%, etc.

¶ 12 Therefore, we have provided a tangible increase within the country’s current fiscal capacity. As Minister, I first engaged the GMOA leadership; when they raised matters to the President a few days ago, we discussed for 1 hour 40 minutes. Yet they have declared an island‑wide strike on the 6th, and an indefinite strike from the 7th, disrupting patients, coinciding with the Health Vote. Given these substantial increases, such action is unfair. I urge all doctors not to proceed with unjust trade union action. If there are issues, we are ready to discuss with anyone, any association, without harming the public.

¶ 13 Thank you.