Sri Lanka Army Commando Salary 2026
Commando pay explained, with the full army ranks salary list for soldiers and officers
How much does a Sri Lanka Army commando earn?
A Sri Lanka Army commando earns about Rs. 65,000 to Rs. 158,419 a month gross, from a commando soldier to a Major. Commandos are paid normal army rank pay plus allowances. The Army's 2026 notice lists Rs. 137,447 for a Lieutenant and Rs. 158,419 for a Major. Soldiers' figures are SalaryLK estimates.
How commando pay works
There is no separate commando salary scale. The Commando Regiment is a regiment of the Sri Lanka Army, so a commando Private, Sergeant or Major is paid exactly the same rank pay as any other soldier or officer of that rank and grade. On top of that comes the standard package: the Rs. 17,800 cost of living allowance, rations or a ration allowance, and other service allowances.
Commandos and Special Forces personnel are also entitled to allowances tied to their specialist role and to operational and field postings. The Army does not publish these amounts in recruitment notices, and we could not verify current rates, so we do not quote a figure. In practice, a commando's pay advantage over an infantry soldier of the same rank comes from these allowances, while faster promotion in a high-performing unit matters more over a career.
What is the Sri Lanka Army Major salary per month?
In July 2026 the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force published gross salaries for every officer rank from Lieutenant to Major General, "as per the Army Pay Code: Management Service Circular 5/2025". A Major receives Rs. 158,419.30 a month gross. These rank figures apply to commando officers too. Navy and air force equivalents are shown for comparison:
| Army rank | Navy | Air Force | Gross monthly (Rs.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lieutenant | Sub Lieutenant | Flying Officer | 137,447.30 |
| Captain | Lieutenant | Flight Lieutenant | 149,610.30 |
| Major | Lieutenant Commander | Squadron Leader | 158,419.30 |
| Lieutenant Colonel | Commander | Wing Commander | 165,776.30 |
| Colonel | Captain | Group Captain | 189,556.30 |
| Brigadier | Commodore | Air Commodore | 201,980.30 |
| Major General | Rear Admiral | Air Vice Marshal | 214,109.30 |
The notice was for professional officers, who can receive extra allowances for their qualifications, so a regular officer's payslip can differ slightly. Second Lieutenants, the rank given to newly commissioned cadets, are not listed. Senior ranks also carry entitlements such as official transport that are not in the gross figure. For more on officer careers, see the army officer salary guide.
Sri Lanka Army ranks salary list for soldiers
The Army does not publish soldiers' gross pay in its notices. What is on record is the 2025 increase in basic pay set by the Presidential Expert Committee and reported in September 2024. Each rank has grades III, II and I, and most have a Special Grade:
| Rank | Basic increase, Gr III / II / I (Rs.) | Special Grade (Rs.) |
|---|---|---|
| Private | 10,660 / 10,960 / 11,260 | - |
| Lance Corporal | 11,560 / 11,860 / 12,160 | 12,460 |
| Corporal | 12,460 / 12,760 / 13,130 | 13,500 |
| Sergeant | 13,500 / 13,870 / 14,240 | 14,610 |
| Staff Sergeant | 14,240 / 14,610 / 15,105 | 15,600 |
| Warrant Officer II | 16,095 / 16,590 / 17,085 | 17,580 |
| Warrant Officer I | 19,725 / 20,385 / 21,045 | 21,705 |
Navy (Ordinary Seaman to Master Chief Petty Officer) and air force (Aircraftman to Master Warrant Officer) ranks received the same increases. Combining these with the cost of living allowance and typical rations and allowances, our estimates of total monthly pay are:
| Rank group | Estimated gross monthly (Rs.) |
|---|---|
| Private / Lance Corporal | 65,000 - 90,000 |
| Corporal / Sergeant | 85,000 - 115,000 |
| Staff Sergeant / Warrant Officer | 100,000 - 135,000 |
These are SalaryLK editorial estimates, not official figures. Actual pay depends on grade, years of service, whether rations are drawn in kind or as cash, and posting allowances. For the army as an employer, including recruitment of soldiers, see the Sri Lanka Army salary overview.
How much did the 2025 revision raise officer pay?
The same committee set these monthly basic pay increases for officers from 1 January 2025:
| Rank | Basic increase (Rs.) |
|---|---|
| Officer Cadet | 13,500 |
| Second Lieutenant (cadet / non-cadet) | 19,725 / 23,025 |
| Lieutenant | 28,855 |
| Captain | 37,045 |
| Major | 42,505 |
| Lieutenant Colonel | 44,175 |
| Colonel | 58,095 |
| Brigadier | 62,555 |
| Major General / Lieutenant General / General | 71,000 / 76,300 / 84,700 |
What is the Commando Regiment?
The Sri Lanka Army Commando Regiment was formed in 1980 from a first commando course that began in February 1978 with volunteers from several regiments. Its headquarters is at Ganemulla, near Colombo, and it has four regular battalions within the Commando Brigade. Commandos specialise in air assault and airborne operations, counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, reconnaissance and VIP protection. A separate Special Forces Regiment also exists. Both draw volunteers from serving soldiers and officers.
How do you become a commando in Sri Lanka?
- Join the Army. Soldiers enlist through the Army's recruitment drives; officers enter as officer cadets at the Sri Lanka Military Academy or through direct-entry notices.
- Meet officer cadet standards (if going for a commission). SLMA takes unmarried cadets aged 18 to 22. Men need six O/L passes at one sitting with four credits including English and passes in Mathematics and Sinhala or Tamil, three A/L passes at one sitting with 30% in the General Test, a height of 5 feet 6 inches, a 32-inch chest and 50 kg weight. Women need two A/L passes and a height of 5 feet 2 inches.
- Complete basic or cadet training. The regular cadet course is a two year and nine month BSc in Military Studies, after which cadets are commissioned as Second Lieutenants.
- Volunteer and pass commando selection. Commando training is physically and mentally demanding, and only those who complete it join the regiment.
If you are comparing uniformed careers, look at navy officer salary by rank and the police SI and ASP salary, where the Special Task Force is the police equivalent of an elite unit. Armed forces pay is pensionable and not subject to EPF; for how it stacks up against civilian state pay, see the government salary scale 2026. Veterans often move into security industry jobs after retirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Sri Lanka commando salary?
Commandos are paid the Sri Lanka Army rank pay for their rank plus allowances. A commando officer earns the same gross as other army officers, for example Rs. 137,447 a month as a Lieutenant and Rs. 158,419 as a Major. A commando soldier earns an estimated Rs. 65,000 to Rs. 135,000 a month from Private to Warrant Officer, depending on rank, grade and allowances.
What is the Sri Lanka Army Major salary per month?
The Army lists a gross salary of Rs. 158,419.30 a month for a Major in its 2026 officer notice, under the Army Pay Code (Management Services Circular 5/2025). The Presidential Expert Committee raised the basic pay of a Major by Rs. 42,505 a month from 1 January 2025, one of the largest increases among middle ranks.
What is the Sri Lanka Army ranks salary list for officers?
The Army 2026 notice gives gross monthly salaries of Rs. 137,447 for a Lieutenant, Rs. 149,610 for a Captain, Rs. 158,419 for a Major, Rs. 165,776 for a Lieutenant Colonel, Rs. 189,556 for a Colonel, Rs. 201,980 for a Brigadier and Rs. 214,109 for a Major General.
Do commandos get extra allowances?
Commando and Special Forces personnel are entitled to allowances linked to their special role and to operational or field postings, in addition to rank pay. The Army does not publish the amounts in its recruitment notices, so we cannot give a verified figure. Ask the regimental pay office or the recruiting office for the current rates.
How do I join the Sri Lanka Army Commando Regiment?
You first join the Sri Lanka Army as a soldier or officer cadet. Commandos are volunteers who pass the regiment's selection and commando training, which is widely regarded as one of the toughest courses in the Army. The Commando Regiment is headquartered at Ganemulla and is organised into four regular battalions.
How much did army salaries increase in 2025?
The Presidential Expert Committee raised armed forces basic pay from 1 January 2025. Monthly basic increases ranged from Rs. 10,660 for a Grade III Private to Rs. 21,705 for a Special Grade Warrant Officer I, Rs. 28,855 for a Lieutenant, Rs. 42,505 for a Major and Rs. 84,700 for a General.
What is the salary of a soldier in the Sri Lanka Army?
The Army does not publish gross pay for soldiers in its recruitment notices. Based on the 2025 basic pay increases, the cost of living allowance and typical rations and allowances, SalaryLK estimates a Private earns about Rs. 65,000 to Rs. 90,000 a month and a Sergeant about Rs. 85,000 to Rs. 115,000.
What are the qualifications to become an army officer cadet?
The Sri Lanka Military Academy takes unmarried male and female cadets aged 18 to 22. Men need six O/L passes at one sitting with four credits including English, and three A/L passes at one sitting with 30% in the General Test. Men must be 5 feet 6 inches tall with a 32-inch chest; women 5 feet 2 inches.
How long is officer training at the Sri Lanka Military Academy?
The regular officer cadet course at the Sri Lanka Military Academy, Diyatalawa, is a two year and nine month programme leading to a BSc in Military Studies. It runs over six semesters, mixing military and academic training. Cadets are commissioned as Second Lieutenants at the end of the course.
Do army personnel pay EPF or tax in Sri Lanka?
No EPF is deducted, because members of the armed forces are not private-sector employees. Income tax (APIT) applies only to taxable employment income above Rs. 150,000 a month, so most soldiers and junior officers pay none. Majors and above, whose gross pay is over Rs. 150,000, can have a small APIT deduction depending on which allowances are taxable.
Sources
- Instructions for Applicants: Enlistment of Other Professional Officers 2026 - Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force (gross pay by rank)
- Salary increment structure for tri-forces personnel announced - Ada Derana, 3 September 2024
- Salary increases for Tri-Forces personnel announced - Sunday Times
- Officer Cadet Courses - Sri Lanka Military Academy
- History of Commando Regiment - Sri Lanka Army
- Sri Lanka Army Commando Regiment - Wikipedia
Updated Reviewed by SalaryLK Editorial TeamHow we research salaries