Sri Lanka’s government has announced revised salary scales for medical officers and specialist doctors while disclosing fresh figures on the number of doctors who have travelled overseas in recent years, as Parliament examined issues affecting the country’s healthcare workforce.
The details were revealed in Parliament by Deputy Minister of Health Dr Hansaka Wijemuni in response to a question raised by Member of Parliament Dayasiri Jayasekara. The information covered revisions to doctors’ basic salaries and allowances, as well as data relating to doctors who have gone abroad over the past several years.
According to the Deputy Minister, a medical officer appointed to the primary grade will receive a basic salary of Rs. 84,574 from 1 January 2026, together with applicable allowances. From 1 January 2027, the basic salary will increase to Rs. 94,150, with corresponding allowances continuing to apply.
Specialist doctors will also receive higher salaries under the revised pay structure. Their basic salary will rise to Rs. 136,575 from 1 January 2026 and increase further to Rs. 156,000 from 1 January 2027. The Deputy Minister said all applicable specialist allowances would be paid in addition to the revised basic salary.
Parliament was also presented with updated figures on doctors who have travelled overseas on no-pay leave. Between 1 January 2020 and 19 June 2026, a total of 1,429 medical officers obtained no-pay leave to go abroad. In addition, 140 specialist doctors travelled overseas on no-pay leave between 1 January 2022 and 15 June 2026.
However, the Deputy Minister said the Ministry of Health does not maintain data on doctors who left the country after resigning from the public service or after leaving their posts.
At the same time, the government noted that the overall number of doctors who went overseas between 2020 and 2025 totalled 3,791. According to the Deputy Minister, the majority were specialist doctors, with most travelling abroad through ministry-facilitated programmes for specialist training and academic studies rather than permanent migration.
The Deputy Minister also informed Parliament that, under the relevant government circular, 280 doctors have already applied this year to travel overseas.
