Rs.188,827 salary for CB’s lowest ranking employee

By Ajith Siriwardana
The gross salary of the lowest ranking employee of the Central Bank, that of an Office Assistant - Grade 1, has been increased by 29.53 per cent up to Rs. 188,827 Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardane said today. Responding to a question by SJB MP S.M. Marikkar, he told Parliament that the gross salary of the Deputy Governor has been increased by 76.97 per cent upto Rs.1,728,419.  
The Prime Minister said the Central Bank employees are entitled to housing loans, vehicle loans, welfare loans and medical facilities as well.  
He said according to the Central Bank, the salary has been increased as per the collective agreement for the period of three years from 2024 to 2026.  

He said it is important to consider the formulas used in collective agreements when increasing salaries rather than the amount of the increment. “The formulas used in various institutions are different. The formulas used in the Central Bank, BOC and People’s Bank are different. I hope Committee on Public Finance Chairman Dr. Harsha De Silva would look into this matter,” he said.   He said the government was ready to take any decision depending on the report of the COPF on the salary increment.  
Meanwhile, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said the matter regarding the salary hike could be discussed after the COPF presented its report.  
“We can debate the COPF report in Parliament,” he said.