The Hon. Chief Government Whip (Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa)

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, I am responding to the question raised by Hon. Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana. Hon. Member, thank you for bringing this up. We greatly appreciate and respect the service rendered by doctors up to health support staff in maintaining the health service in this country. You are aware they have been working more than 120 hours of extra duty to keep the service going. Therefore, in this Budget, we have increased the basic salary of doctors and all public servants.

¶ 02 I wish to state that no one in the health sector should panic. Even if a small group tries to create panic, there is no need to fall for it. Everyone’s salaries are increasing. Although we granted the basic salary increment in three stages, the calculation of extra duty payments is based on the total basic salary. Accordingly, the April 2025 salary will show a significant increase over March 2025. For example, a Preliminary Grade Medical Officer entering after internship will receive over Rs. 26,000 more in total salary in April. Therefore, no one should worry. The State Minister of Health and Media will present the details in his speech.