Environmental Officer Salary in Sri Lanka 2026

How much does an environmental officer earn in Sri Lanka?

A Central Environmental Authority Environmental Officer is on scale MA 5-1, Rs. 58,740 to Rs. 109,410 basic a month once fully paid in 2027. A 2026 recruit gets Rs. 53,886 basic plus Rs. 17,800 cost of living allowance, about Rs. 71,700. Private-sector EHS officers earn an estimated Rs. 80,000 to Rs. 220,000.

CEA environmental officer salary scale

The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) is Sri Lanka's main environmental regulator. Its November 2025 vacancy notice set the Environmental Officer Grade III post on salary code MA 5-1:

Rs. 58,740 - 1,190 x 10 - 1,360 x 15 - 1,670 x 11 - Rs. 109,410

As with other state bodies, the 2025 increase is paid in stages under Management Services Circular 01/2025. The notice gave the entry basic salary for each phase. Adding the Rs. 17,800 cost of living allowance gives:

Period	Entry basic (Rs.)	Basic + COLA (Rs.)
Apr - Dec 2025 (phase 1)	49,031	66,831
From 1 Jan 2026 (phase 2)	53,886	71,686
From 1 Jan 2027 (full scale)	58,740	76,540

Unlike central government public servants, CEA staff are not pensionable. The post is permanent with EPF and ETF, so 8% of salary is deducted for EPF and the CEA adds 12% EPF and 3% ETF. Fringe benefits listed in the notice were medical insurance, encashment of unused medical leave and a distress loan. Increments of Rs. 1,190, then Rs. 1,360 and Rs. 1,670 a year lift the basic over a 36-year scale.

What does an environmental officer do?

The CEA describes the work in four areas, which also make up the syllabus of its recruitment exam:

+ Pollution control: inspecting industries, issuing and monitoring Environmental Protection Licences, and investigating complaints.
+ Environmental management and assessment: reviewing initial environmental examinations and environmental impact assessments for projects.
+ Waste management: supporting local authorities on solid waste and overseeing hazardous waste rules.
+ Environmental education and awareness: school and community programmes.

In private companies the title usually means an environmental or EHS (environment, health and safety) officer, who keeps the site compliant with its licence, monitors effluent, emissions and waste, runs ISO 14001 environmental management systems, prepares for buyer audits and often covers occupational safety too. Engineering-heavy roles overlap with an environmental engineer.

How much do private-sector EHS officers earn?

Apparel and rubber exporters, food and beverage plants, construction firms, hotels, energy producers and environmental consultancies all employ environmental staff. Ranges below are SalaryLK editorial estimates of gross monthly pay, based on job adverts and pay in comparable technical roles:

Level	Experience	Monthly (Rs.)
Environmental / EHS executive	0 - 3 years	80,000 - 140,000
Senior EHS officer	3 - 7 years	130,000 - 220,000
EHS manager / environmental manager	7+ years	220,000 - 400,000

Pay rises fastest for officers who add safety qualifications such as NEBOSH, lead-auditor training for ISO 14001 or ISO 45001, and experience with buyer sustainability audits. Safety-focused roles are covered in construction safety officer salary and safety engineer salary. For the whole sector, see environmental industry salaries.

What raises an environmental officer's salary?

+ Sector: export manufacturing, energy and large construction projects pay more than local firms and NGOs.
+ Safety skills: combining environment with occupational health and safety makes an officer an EHS all-rounder.
+ Systems and audits: ISO 14001 implementation and experience with buyer sustainability audits are in demand.
+ Regulatory knowledge: CEA licensing and assessment experience is valued by consultancies and project developers.
+ Postgraduate study: an MSc in environmental science or management helps for consultancy and manager roles.

Government vs private: which pays more?

Role	Pay basis	Monthly (Rs.)
CEA Environmental Officer Gr III	MA 5-1, 2026 entry + COLA	71,686
Public service Development Officer	MN 4-2025 basic (full scale)	53,060 - 94,100
Private EHS executive	Estimate, gross	80,000 - 140,000
Private EHS manager	Estimate, gross	220,000 - 400,000

Private employers pay more from the start, while the CEA offers job security, a fixed scale, and regulatory experience that private employers value. Graduates can also enter the public service as Development Officers, who are deployed across ministries, departments and Divisional Secretariats, and some work on environment-related programmes. Their scale is in the government salary scale 2026; NGO and local government field roles are covered in community development officer salary.

How do you become an environmental officer at the CEA?

Get a relevant degree. The 2025 notice accepted UGC-recognised degrees in physical science, biological science, environmental science, agricultural science, sociology, mass communication or a special degree in geography.
Watch for the vacancy notice. The CEA advertises in newspapers and on cea.lk. The November 2025 call was open to applicants aged 22 to 45, closed on 21 November 2025, and required both a posted application and an online Google form.
Pass the written exam. An aptitude test, English and Sinhala or Tamil language papers, and a subject paper, with 40% in each and 50% overall.
Structured interview. Marks go for relevant experience (30), additional qualifications (30), other achievements (15) and interview performance (25).
Placement. Appointees are placed by merit and preferred district, and serve at least three years at their first station.

For other state-sector entry routes, read how to become a government officer in Sri Lanka.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the environmental officer salary in Sri Lanka?

At the Central Environmental Authority, an Environmental Officer Grade III is on salary scale MA 5-1: Rs. 58,740 rising to Rs. 109,410 basic a month when the 2025 revision is fully paid. In 2026 a new recruit is placed at Rs. 53,886 basic plus the Rs. 17,800 cost of living allowance, about Rs. 71,700. Private-sector EHS and environmental officers earn an estimated Rs. 80,000 to Rs. 220,000.

What does an environmental officer do in Sri Lanka?

At the CEA, environmental officers work on pollution control, environmental licensing and inspections, environmental assessment, waste management and environmental education. In companies, environmental or EHS officers manage compliance with environmental protection licences, monitor emissions and waste, run ISO 14001 systems and handle health and safety, depending on the employer.

What qualifications do I need to become a CEA environmental officer?

The November 2025 CEA notice asked for a UGC-recognised bachelor's degree in physical science, biological science, environmental science, agricultural science, sociology, mass communication or special degree in geography. Applicants had to be 22 to 45 years old. Selection was by written examination followed by a structured interview.

What is the CEA environmental officer exam?

The CEA written examination has an aptitude test (100 marks), language papers in English and in Sinhala or Tamil (50 marks each), and a two-hour subject paper (100 marks) on pollution control, environmental management and assessment, waste management, environmental education and global and national environmental conventions. Candidates need 40% in each paper and 50% overall.

Do CEA environmental officers get EPF?

Yes. The CEA is a statutory body, and its 2025 notice described the Environmental Officer post as permanent with Employees' Provident Fund and Employees' Trust Fund. The officer contributes 8% of salary to EPF and the CEA adds 12% EPF and 3% ETF. Benefits listed included medical insurance, encashment of unused medical leave and distress loans.

How much do EHS officers earn in private companies?

SalaryLK estimates that environmental or EHS executives in Sri Lankan manufacturing, apparel, construction and energy companies earn about Rs. 80,000 to Rs. 140,000 a month with up to three years of experience, Rs. 130,000 to Rs. 220,000 as senior officers, and Rs. 220,000 to Rs. 400,000 as EHS managers. Export manufacturers and large groups pay at the top end.

Is environmental officer a government job in Sri Lanka?

It can be. The Central Environmental Authority, a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, recruits Environmental Officers by open exam. Graduates can also join the public service as Development Officers on MN 4-2025 (Rs. 53,060 to Rs. 94,100), and some of them work on environment-related programmes. Many environmental officer jobs are in private industry.

Where are CEA environmental officers posted?

The CEA has its head office in Battaramulla and provincial and district offices around the country. The 2025 notice said appointees are placed by merit and their preferred district, and must serve at least three years at their first posting.

Is environmental science a good career in Sri Lanka?

Demand comes mainly from regulation and exports. Every factory needing an environmental protection licence, every large project needing an environmental assessment, and every exporter facing buyer audits needs environmental staff. Starting pay in government is modest, but experienced EHS managers in export industries earn well, and the skills transfer to jobs abroad.

Sources

Vacancies: Post of Environmental Officer (MA 5-1, Grade III) - Central Environmental Authority, 2 November 2025
Public Administration Circular 10/2025 - Ministry of Public Administration (MN 4-2025, Development Officers' Service)
Services - Central Environmental Authority

Level	Gross	EPF 8%	APIT	Take-home
EHS executive (0-3 years)	LKR 110,000	LKR 8,800	LKR 0	LKR 101,200
Senior EHS officer (3-7 years)	LKR 175,000	LKR 14,000	LKR 1,500	LKR 159,500
EHS manager (7+ years)	LKR 310,000	LKR 24,800	LKR 20,900	LKR 264,300