Director Salary in Sri Lanka 2026
Executive Director roles across functions
Quick Answer
Directors in Sri Lanka earn LKR 300,000-700,000+ per month depending on director type. Executive Director: LKR 400K-700K. Functional Director (HR, Finance, IT): LKR 280K-450K. Non-Executive Board Director: LKR 50K-150K per meeting. Managing Director: LKR 500K-1.5M+. Package includes base plus bonus (2-6 months), benefits, stock options. Role requires 12-15+ years experience, professional certification, MBA preferred. Executive Directors are full-time employees, Non-Executive Directors are advisors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the salary of Director in Sri Lanka?
Directors in Sri Lanka earn LKR 300,000-700,000+ per month depending on director type and organization. Executive Director (C-suite): LKR 400,000-700,000. Functional Director (HR, Finance, Operations): LKR 280,000-450,000. Non-Executive Director (Board): LKR 50,000-150,000 per board meeting, multiple directorships common. Managing Director: LKR 500,000-1,500,000+. MNC Country Director: LKR 500,000-1,200,000. Package for Executive Director includes base salary plus performance bonus (2-6 months), benefits, stock options. Directors carry significant accountability and board-level responsibilities.
What is the difference between Executive Director and Non-Executive Director?
Executive Director (LKR 400K-700K+ monthly): Full-time executive role, involved in day-to-day management, part of executive committee, employment contract, benefits and bonuses. Non-Executive Director (LKR 50K-150K per meeting): Not involved in daily operations, independent oversight, board meeting attendance, strategic guidance, multiple board positions common. Executive Director: Reports to CEO, leads function or business. Non-Executive Director: Provides governance oversight, challenges management, sits on board committees. Non-Executive Directors are external advisors, not employees. Some organizations have Non-Executive Chairman as separate role. Executive Directors are full-time employees with executive responsibilities. Compensation difference is significant: Executive Directors earn monthly salary + bonuses, Non-Executive Directors earn director fees per meeting.
What is HR Director salary?
HR Directors in Sri Lanka earn LKR 280,000-450,000 per month. Large company HR Director: LKR 350,000-450,000. Mid-size company: LKR 280,000-350,000. MNC HR Director: LKR 380,000-550,000. Banking HR Director: LKR 300,000-420,000. Package includes: Base salary, Performance bonus (2-4 months), Company vehicle, Executive medical. Role requires: 12-15+ years HR experience, CHRP certification, MBA preferred, Leadership track record. Responsibilities: HR strategy, Executive team member, Board reporting on HR, Full HR function oversight, Senior leadership recruitment, Culture and engagement, HR transformation. Reports to CEO or CHRO. HR Director is highest HR position in most Sri Lankan organizations. Career path: HR Manager to Head of HR to HR Director. Some organizations use CHRO title instead.
What is Finance Director salary?
Finance Directors earn LKR 320,000-500,000 per month in Sri Lanka. Large company Finance Director: LKR 400,000-500,000. Mid-size company: LKR 320,000-400,000. MNC Finance Director: LKR 400,000-600,000. Banking Finance Director: LKR 380,000-550,000. Package: Base salary, Performance bonus (2-4 months), Company vehicle, Executive benefits. Requires: CA/ACCA/CIMA qualification essential, 12-15+ years finance experience, MBA helpful, CFO track. Responsibilities: Finance function leadership, Financial strategy, Board reporting, Investor relations (if listed), Treasury, Financial control, Audit committee liaison. Reports to CEO or CFO. Finance Director is senior-most finance role below CFO in many organizations. Career path: Finance Manager to Financial Controller to Finance Director to CFO. Some organizations combine Finance Director and CFO roles. Finance Directors are critical for financial governance and strategy.
What is IT Director salary?
IT Directors earn LKR 280,000-480,000 per month. Large company IT Director: LKR 350,000-480,000. Mid-size company: LKR 280,000-380,000. MNC IT Director: LKR 380,000-550,000. Tech company IT Director: LKR 320,000-500,000. Package: Base salary, Performance bonus (2-5 months), Vehicle, Benefits. Requires: 12-15+ years IT experience, Technology leadership track record, Understanding of business-technology alignment. Responsibilities: IT strategy, Digital transformation, Technology operations, Information security, IT team leadership, Vendor management, Board reporting on IT. Reports to CEO or CIO. IT Director is senior-most technology role in many organizations. Career path: IT Manager to IT Head to IT Director. Some use CIO title instead. Digital transformation experience valued. CTO roles exist in tech companies. IT Director drives technology strategy and execution.
What qualifications does Director need?
Director requirements: Bachelor degree minimum in relevant field. Professional qualification: CA/CIMA (Finance), CHRP (HR), Engineering certifications (Operations), IT certifications (Technology). MBA preferred for all Director roles. 12-15+ years progressive experience. Functional expertise plus leadership. Key skills: Strategic thinking, leadership, board-level communication, stakeholder management, cross-functional collaboration, decision-making, business acumen. Executive presence essential. For Executive Director: Employment contract, Full-time role. For Non-Executive Director: Proven track record in industry, governance understanding, independent perspective. Executive Directors: Promoted from functional Head roles or external hires. Non-Executive Directors: Senior executives, retired executives, domain experts. Most Directors have MBA from recognized institution. Leadership experience critical. Board experience helps. Industry expertise valued.
How much does Board Director earn per meeting?
Non-Executive Board Directors in Sri Lanka earn LKR 50,000-150,000 per board meeting depending on company size and complexity. Large listed company Board Director: LKR 100,000-150,000 per meeting. Mid-size listed company: LKR 70,000-100,000. Private large company: LKR 50,000-80,000. Board meetings typically 6-12 per year. Board Committee participation (Audit, Remuneration, Nomination): Additional LKR 30,000-75,000 per committee meeting. Committee meetings 4-6 per year per committee. Chairman of Board: LKR 150,000-300,000 per meeting. Chairman of Committee: Additional fees. Multiple directorships: Many Non-Executive Directors sit on 3-5 boards, earning from director fees. Annual director earnings: LKR 1.2M-5M+ depending on company and number of boards. Non-Executive Directors are not employees, directorship is advisory role. Time commitment: 15-25 days per year per board. Compensation regulated for listed companies, disclosed in annual reports.
What is Managing Director salary?
Managing Director salary in Sri Lanka: LKR 500,000-1,500,000+ per month depending on organization. Large company MD: LKR 800,000-1,500,000. Mid-size company MD: LKR 500,000-800,000. Family business MD: LKR 400,000-700,000. MNC Managing Director: LKR 700,000-1,200,000. Package: Base salary, Performance bonus (3-12 months), Stock options, Company vehicle (premium), Executive medical, Executive pension. MD is top executive role, similar to CEO. Responsibilities: Full P&L, organization leadership, Board reporting, strategy execution, stakeholder management. Reports to Board of Directors. MD often has Board position. Appointment requires Board resolution. Some organizations use CEO title, others MD. MD is more common in British Commonwealth contexts. MD/CEO combined title used sometimes. MD salary is among highest in organization, second only to Board Chairman compensation in some cases.
What is Director career path?
Director career path: Manager (LKR 150K-280K, 8-10 yrs) to Senior Manager/Head (LKR 200K-350K, 10-12 yrs) to Director (LKR 280K-500K, 12-15 yrs). Path varies by function: HR: HR Manager to Head HR to HR Director to CHRO. Finance: Finance Manager to Financial Controller to Finance Director to CFO. Operations: Operations Manager to Head Ops to Operations Director to COO. IT: IT Manager to IT Head to IT Director to CIO/CDO. Marketing: Marketing Manager to Marketing Head to Marketing Director to CMO. Timeline to Director: 12-15+ years typically. Accelerators: MBA, Professional certifications, High-visibility projects, Leadership development, International exposure. External Director hires: Expertise in specific area, transformation experience, industry reputation. Internal promotion: Deep company knowledge, proven track record. Director roles are peak of functional career. Next step: Executive Director, C-suite (CEO, COO, CFO), Board Non-Executive Director.
What are Director responsibilities?
Director responsibilities: Functional leadership: Lead entire function team (20-100+ staff). Strategic planning for function. Executive committee member. Board reporting on function. Budget management for function (LKR 50M-500M+). Cross-functional collaboration with other Directors and executives. Policy development. Talent management: Hiring senior team, succession planning. Stakeholder management: Internal and external. Performance management: Function KPIs, team performance. Transformation initiatives: Drive change in function. Decision-making: Functional decisions, input on strategic decisions. Risk management: Function-specific risks. Reporting to CEO/COO. Leading executives/managers within function. Governance: Compliance, ethics, best practices. External representation: Industry forums, vendor relationships. Directors make strategic functional decisions, oversee managers, represent function at executive level. Accountability for function performance and development.
Is Director a good career level?
Yes, Director is excellent career level representing senior leadership and significant influence. Career achievement: Reached senior executive level. Compensation: LKR 280K-500K+ monthly with bonuses and benefits. Scope: Leading entire function, organizational impact. Influence: Executive committee role, strategic input. Job security: Senior role with significant expertise. Path to C-suite: Director to Executive Director/C-level possible. Recognition: Respected leadership position. Challenges: High accountability, stakeholder management, always-on responsibility, team complexity. Work involves: Strategy, leadership, stakeholder management, problem-solving. Demand: Organizations need strong Directors for each function. Recommended for: Managers aspiring to senior leadership, functional experts with leadership ambition, those who enjoy strategic and people leadership. Director role offers peak of functional career with clear path to C-suite. Compensation and influence are significant at Director level. Work is challenging but rewarding with organizational impact. Directors are key leadership team members.
What is the difference between Director and Head?
Director typically is more senior than Head, though titles vary by organization. Director salary: LKR 280K-500K. Head salary: LKR 200K-350K commonly. Director: Usually reports to CEO/COO/C-suite, Part of executive committee, Board reporting, Broader scope, More strategic, Larger team oversight (multiple managers). Head: May report to Director or CEO, Manages function directly, Less strategic scope, Team management without executive committee role. Title usage: Some organizations use Head of X, others Director of X for similar scope. MNCs: More structured use of Director title clearly above Manager and Head. Local companies: Title usage less consistent. Similar responsibilities sometimes with different titles. True Directors are executive level, Heads are senior management. Generally Director > Head > Manager > Senior Manager hierarchy. Check reporting and scope rather than just title. Compensation follows seniority generally. Directors sit on executive committees, Heads may not.