PHI Salary in Sri Lanka 2026
Public Health Inspector salary scale MT 5-2025 by grade, what the job involves, and how to train as a PHI
How much does a PHI earn in Sri Lanka?
A Public Health Inspector (PHI) in Sri Lanka is paid on the MT 5-2025 scale: Rs. 53,320 to Rs. 101,110 basic a month once fully paid in January 2027. In 2026 a new Grade III PHI receives Rs. 50,106 basic plus the Rs. 17,800 cost of living allowance, about Rs. 67,900 a month before other allowances.
Public health inspector salary scale (MT 5-2025)
Public Administration Circular 10/2025 introduced new public service salary scales from 1 January 2025. Its Schedule I lists "Para Medical Services (Public Health Midwife / Public Health Inspectors)" on two codes: MT 5-2025 for the Supra Grade and Grades I, II and III, and MT 8-2025 for the Special Grade.
The figures are the full basic salaries payable from 1 January 2027. Until then, part of the increase is held back, as the next table shows.
What is the PHI salary by grade in 2026?
These figures come from the Schedule III conversion tables headed MT 5-2025 Grade III, II and I. They show the old December 2024 basic at the same step, the amount paid from April 2025 and January 2026, and the full amount from January 2027. All are monthly basic salary in rupees.
| Grade point | Code / step | Dec 2024 | Apr 2025 | Jan 2026 | Jan 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade III, entry | MT 5-2025, step 1 | 31,635 | 46,891 | 50,106 | 53,320 |
| Grade III, top of table | MT 5-2025, step 19 | 39,645 | 56,818 | 62,269 | 67,720 |
| Grade II, entry | MT 5-2025, step 12 | 36,745 | 53,225 | 57,868 | 62,510 |
| Grade II, top of table | MT 5-2025, step 30 | 48,625 | 67,967 | 75,949 | 83,930 |
| Grade I, entry | MT 5-2025, step 23 | 44,075 | 62,322 | 69,026 | 75,730 |
| Scale maximum | MT 5-2025, step 42 | 58,145 | 79,785 | 90,448 | 101,110 |
| Special Grade, entry | MT 8-2025, step 1 | 50,200 | 69,930 | 78,365 | 86,800 |
| Special Grade, maximum | MT 8-2025, step 19 | 76,690 | 102,789 | 118,655 | 134,520 |
In 2026 each officer receives Rs. 5,000 plus 65% of the net increase above Rs. 5,000; the rest is paid from 2027. PHIs also earn an increment every year, so most serving inspectors are several steps above the entry point. The circular places the Supra Grade on MT 5-2025 but does not print a separate conversion table for it.
How much does a PHI take home each month?
Adding the Rs. 17,800 cost of living allowance to the 2026 basic gives these approximate gross figures:
| Grade point | 2026 basic + COLA (Rs.) |
|---|---|
| Grade III, new appointment | about 67,900 |
| Grade II, entry | about 75,670 |
| Grade I, entry | about 86,830 |
| Special Grade, entry | about 96,170 |
PHIs are pensionable public servants, so EPF is not deducted, and these amounts are below the Rs. 150,000 monthly APIT threshold. Field work brings travel and duty-related allowances under Ministry of Health and provincial rules. Circular 10/2025 does not list those amounts and we could not verify current figures, so they are not included above.
What does a PHI do?
The PHI service dates back to 1913. A PHI works under the Medical Officer of Health (MOH) for a defined area, and most of the job is in the community rather than an office. Typical duties include:
- Investigating and controlling communicable diseases such as dengue, including inspections of premises for mosquito breeding.
- Food safety: inspecting food outlets and factories and taking action under the Food Act.
- School health, including support for immunisation programmes.
- Environmental health and occupational health checks.
- Health education and promotion in the community.
The service runs from Class III, Class II and Class I PHI up to divisional, district and provincial supervising PHI and principal PHI posts. For an overview of inspection roles beyond the PHI service, see the health inspector salary guide.
How do you become a PHI in Sri Lanka?
- Pass the G.C.E. A/L in the science stream. Recent intakes have required passes in two subjects from Chemistry, Physics, Agriculture, Biology or Combined Mathematics, with a credit pass in Biology or Combined Mathematics, together with the required O/L passes.
- Apply when the Ministry of Health calls for applications. The Ministry of Health advertises the Public Health Inspector course with its allied health training courses. The 2026 call was open from 7 to 31 August 2026 through the online system at mohrecruit.uom.lk, for applicants aged 18 to 30.
- Meet the physical requirements. The PHI course has been open to male applicants only, with a minimum height of 5 feet 2 inches (157.46 cm). Check the current notice, as conditions can change between intakes.
- Complete the two-year training. Trainees follow a two-year course at the National Institute of Health Sciences in Kalutara or a regional training centre, leading to the Higher Diploma for Public Health Inspectors.
- Get appointed as a Grade III PHI. After passing the final examination, trainees are appointed as Public Health Inspectors in Grade III on the MT 5-2025 salary scale and posted to a Medical Officer of Health area.
The PHI course is one of several Ministry of Health allied health courses; the 2026 call also covered dental technicians, entomology officers, school dental therapists and ECG technicians. For other routes into public service, see how to become a government officer.
PHI salary compared with other health jobs
| Post | Code | Full scale (Rs.) |
|---|---|---|
| PHI / Public Health Midwife | MT 5-2025 | 53,320 - 101,110 |
| MLT, pharmacist, radiographer | MT 6-2025 | 54,120 - 101,910 |
| Nursing officer | MT 7-2025 | 54,920 - 102,710 |
| Medical officer | SL 2-2025 | 91,750 - 184,170 |
Read more in the nursing officer salary, midwife salary, pharmacist salary and doctor salary guides, or see every code on the government salary scale 2026 page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PHI salary in Sri Lanka?
Public Health Inspectors are paid on the MT 5-2025 salary scale, which runs from Rs. 53,320 to Rs. 101,110 basic a month once the 2025 pay revision is fully paid in January 2027. In 2026 a new Grade III PHI is paid Rs. 50,106 basic, and with the Rs. 17,800 cost of living allowance that is about Rs. 67,900 a month.
What is the public health inspector salary scale code?
Schedule I of Public Administration Circular 10/2025 places para medical services covering Public Health Midwives and Public Health Inspectors on MT 5-2025 for the Supra Grade and Grades I, II and III, and on MT 8-2025 for the Special Grade. The MT 5-2025 scale is Rs. 53,320 - 10 x 800 - 11 x 1,190 - 10 x 1,320 - 10 x 1,350 - Rs. 101,110.
How much does a new PHI earn in 2026?
A newly appointed Grade III PHI starts at step 1 of MT 5-2025. Under the phased payment in Circular 10/2025 the basic salary paid from 1 January 2026 is Rs. 50,106, rising to the full Rs. 53,320 from 1 January 2027. The Rs. 17,800 cost of living allowance is paid on top, giving about Rs. 67,906 gross in 2026.
Where is PHI training done in Sri Lanka?
The two-year Public Health Inspector course is run at the National Institute of Health Sciences in Kalutara and at regional health training centres. Trainees receive the Higher Diploma for Public Health Inspectors and are then appointed to the Ministry of Health or provincial health services as Grade III PHIs.
What are the qualifications to become a PHI?
For the 2026 intake, applicants needed A/L passes in two subjects from Chemistry, Physics, Agriculture, Biology or Combined Mathematics with a credit pass in Biology or Combined Mathematics, and had to be 18 to 30 years old. The course has been open to men only, with a minimum height of 5 feet 2 inches.
Can women become PHIs in Sri Lanka?
Recent PHI course notices, including the 2026 call, have accepted male applicants only. A related field role in public health is the Public Health Midwife, which Circular 10/2025 lists in the same para medical service category and on the same MT 5-2025 scale for Grades III to Supra.
Do PHIs get allowances on top of salary?
All PHIs receive the Rs. 17,800 cost of living allowance. Because PHIs spend most of their time in the field, travel and other duty-related allowances are paid under Ministry of Health and provincial rules. Circular 10/2025 does not list their amounts, and we could not verify current figures, so we do not quote them.
Is the PHI salary the same as a nurse salary?
No. Nursing officers are on MT 7-2025, which starts at Rs. 54,920, while PHIs are on MT 5-2025, starting at Rs. 53,320. The gap at entry is Rs. 1,600 a month when fully paid. Both services share the MT 8-2025 scale at Special Grade, which runs from Rs. 86,800 to Rs. 134,520.
What is a supervising PHI salary?
Circular 10/2025 does not list supervising PHI posts separately. It puts the PHI service on MT 5-2025 from Grade III to the Supra Grade and on MT 8-2025 for the Special Grade, so senior and supervising inspectors are paid within those two scales. Special Grade pay is Rs. 86,800 to Rs. 134,520 when fully paid; in 2026 the entry step is paid Rs. 78,365 basic.
Sources
- Public Administration Circular 10/2025 (PDF) - Ministry of Public Administration (Schedule I mapping, MT 5 and MT 8 scales, Schedule III tables)
- Government Salary Scales 2025 (English PDF mirror) - Gazette.lk
- Ministry of Health Para Medical Training Courses 2026 - PHI eligibility, age and application dates
- Applications called for eight allied health training courses - Newsfirst, 10 August 2026
- Public Health Inspector (Sri Lanka) - Wikipedia (training at NIHS Kalutara, grades, duties)
- Public Administration Circular 03/2024 - cost of living allowance
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