Over 70% pay hike for academics

Increase parallel to ongoing restructuring process:

Dharma SRI ABEYRATNE

The salaries of university academic staff will be increased by over 70 percent with effect from October 1, University Grants Commission chairman Professor Gamini Samaranayaka said.

Prof. Samaranayaka said salaries of the academic staff have been increased to a great degree from time to time compared to the salaries of the parallel services.

The academic staff have already been receiving a certain portion of the salary increment but the final stage of the increment will be implemented from October 1, this year.

“Accordingly, the all inclusive salary of a senior professor will be Rs 140,721 per month from October 1 up from Rs 80,931.50, a salary increment rate of 73.88 percent.

The all inclusive salary of a professor will be Rs 122,250, an increase of 69.73 percent, from the previous all inclusive salary of Rs 72,026.50.

The new salary of an assistant professor will be Rs 108,736, an increase of 66.12 percent.

The salary revision would also give a grade one senior lecturer a gross salary of Rs 98,761, 61.13 percent increase while the gross salary of grade two senior lecturer will be Rs 86,950(58.68 percent increase).

while the gross salary of grade two senior lecturer will be Rs 86,950(58.68 percent increase).From October 1, a lecturer will have his gross salary increased by 52.39 percent making it Rs. 75,179 while a lecturer on probation will receive an all inclusive salary Rs 55,775 per month following an increase by 36.64 percent," Professor Samaranayaka added.

Higher Education Minister SB Dissanayake said this salary increment of university academic staff has resulted in a severe imbalance of state services salaries. However, the government took steps to increase the salaries of university academic staff parallel to the ongoing university system restructuring process aiming to convert Sri Lanka as the Knowledge Hub of Asia.