Police OIC Salary in Sri Lanka 2026
What a station OIC is paid, the Inspector and Chief Inspector scales, and police constable pay
How much does a police OIC earn in Sri Lanka?
A police OIC in Sri Lanka earns Rs. 63,070 to Rs. 96,600 basic a month, because most OICs are Inspectors or Chief Inspectors. Adding the Rs. 17,800 cost of living allowance and the police special allowance gives about Rs. 96,000 to Rs. 137,000 a month, before food, lodging and duty allowances. There is no separate published OIC salary.
How we checked this
- We read PA Circular 10/2025 for every police salary code, including the 2026 phased amounts.
- We read the police constable gazette of 20 June 2025 for the full constable allowance list.
- We used November 2025 news of OIC transfers to confirm the rank OICs usually hold.
- We checked in October 2026. Gross figures for IP and CI are our calculations from the official rates.
What is an OIC in Sri Lanka Police?
OIC stands for Officer-in-Charge. It is the officer who commands a police station: the duty roster, complaints, investigations and the station's relationship with the public. Sri Lanka has more than 600 police stations, and each has an OIC.
OIC is a posting, not a rank. In practice the post goes to Inspector-rank officers. When the IGP transferred 25 Inspector-rank officers in November 2025 with National Police Commission approval, several of them were OICs of stations and divisions. So to work out an OIC's pay, you look at the Inspector (IP) and Chief Inspector (CI) scales.
Police OIC salary by rank in 2026
The table shows each scale, the basic actually paid at the first step in 2026 under the phased revision, and our gross figure (basic + Rs. 17,800 COLA + special allowance of 22% of basic plus Rs. 1,250) at the first and top steps of the full scale.
| Rank | Code | Basic scale (Rs.) | Paid 2026, step 1 | Gross, first step | Gross, top step |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inspector of Police (IP) | RS 4-2025 | 63,070 - 91,630 | 58,331 | 95,995 | 130,839 |
| Chief Inspector (CI) | RS 5-2025 | 72,800 - 96,600 | 66,544 | 107,866 | 136,902 |
Full scales: RS 4-2025 is Rs. 63,070 - 24 x 1,190 - Rs. 91,630, and RS 5-2025 is Rs. 72,800 - 17 x 1,400 - Rs. 96,600. Food and lodging and duty allowances come on top. The 2026 notices set food and lodging at Rs. 31,800 for a Sub Inspector and Rs. 34,800 for an ASP, but we have not seen a notice that prints the IP or CI figure, so we have left it out of the gross.
Is there an OIC allowance?
Not one we could find in writing. PA Circular 10/2025 sets the scales and the police special allowance; it does not create a station command allowance. The pay advantage of an OIC comes from rank: a Chief Inspector is one promotion away from ASP, where pay moves to the executive SL 1-2025 scale and can reach Rs. 195,970 basic.
What is the police constable salary in Sri Lanka?
Many people searching for OIC pay are really comparing it with where they would start. Constables are on RS 1-2025, Rs. 49,550 - 7 x 540 - 27 x 670 - Rs. 71,420. The gazette of 20 June 2025 lists the full monthly package for a new constable:
| Item | Rs. a month |
|---|---|
| Basic salary (RS 1-2025, step 1) | 49,550.00 |
| Cost of living allowance | 17,800.00 |
| Special allowance (22% of basic + Rs. 1,250) | 12,151.00 |
| Arduous duty allowance | 2,000.00 |
| Uniform cleaning allowance | 250.00 |
| Food and lodging allowance | 28,800.00 |
| Total | 110,551.00 |
The notice quotes the full scale. Under the phased schedule, the first step is actually paid Rs. 46,922 basic in 2026 and the full Rs. 49,550 from January 2027. Constables also get transport, medical welfare and uniforms. For the entry rules and tests, see our guide to becoming a police officer.
What are all the police ranks and salary codes?
| Rank | Salary code | Basic scale (Rs.) |
|---|---|---|
| Police Constable | RS 1-2025 | 49,550 - 71,420 |
| Police Sergeant | RS 2-2025 | 54,000 - 75,160 |
| Sergeant Major / Sub Inspector | RS 3-2025 | 55,410 - 91,630 |
| Inspector of Police | RS 4-2025 | 63,070 - 91,630 |
| Chief Inspector | RS 5-2025 | 72,800 - 96,600 |
| ASP, SP, SSP, DIG, Senior DIG | SL 1-2025 | 82,150 - 195,970 |
| Inspector General of Police | SL 3-2025 | 156,000 - 214,200 |
The step from Chief Inspector to ASP is the largest jump in police pay. For SI and ASP packages in full, see our police SI and ASP salary guide; for working conditions across the service, the Sri Lanka Police salary overview; and for the elite unit, our STF salary page.
How do you become an OIC?
There are two ways up. A constable can be promoted to Sergeant, then Sub Inspector and Inspector over many years. Or you can join directly as a Sub Inspector with three A/L passes, which cuts years off the climb.
Once at Inspector rank, OIC postings and transfers are made by the IGP with National Police Commission approval. The job is demanding: an OIC answers for everything that happens at the station, and transfers can come at short notice.
Our take: the SI route is the faster road to OIC
An OIC's basic, Rs. 63,070 to Rs. 96,600, is solid by public service standards but not dramatic. It sits above a Management Service Officer and well below an ASP at the top of SL 1-2025.
If you want to command a station one day, we would aim for Sub Inspector entry rather than constable. SI starts on a higher scale, sits closer to Inspector rank and carries a larger food and lodging allowance.
If you are already a constable, the numbers still work in your favour over time: each promotion moves you to a higher RS scale and lifts the 22% special allowance with it. For a wider view, compare police pay with government vs private salaries.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the police OIC salary in Sri Lanka?
An OIC is paid for his or her rank, not the OIC post. Most OICs are Inspectors (RS 4-2025, Rs. 63,070 to Rs. 91,630 basic) or Chief Inspectors (RS 5-2025, Rs. 72,800 to Rs. 96,600). With the cost of living allowance and the police special allowance, that is about Rs. 96,000 to Rs. 137,000 a month before food, lodging and duty allowances.
What rank is an OIC in Sri Lanka Police?
OIC means Officer-in-Charge, a posting rather than a rank. Police stations are normally commanded by Inspector-rank officers, meaning Inspectors of Police and Chief Inspectors. When 25 Inspector-rank officers were transferred in November 2025, several were serving OICs of police stations and divisions.
Does an OIC get an extra allowance?
We could not find a published OIC or station command allowance in PA Circular 10/2025 or in recent police recruitment notices. An OIC receives the normal allowances of his or her rank, such as the Rs. 17,800 cost of living allowance and the special allowance of 22% of basic plus Rs. 1,250. Ask the police pay branch for current station-level entitlements.
What is the police constable salary in Sri Lanka?
A police constable is on RS 1-2025, Rs. 49,550 to Rs. 71,420 basic. The June 2025 recruitment gazette adds Rs. 17,800 cost of living, Rs. 12,151 special allowance, Rs. 28,800 food and lodging, Rs. 2,000 arduous duty and Rs. 250 uniform allowance, for Rs. 110,551 a month at the first step.
What is the Sri Lanka police constable salary in 2026?
In 2026 the 2025 pay revision is still being phased in. A constable at the first step is paid Rs. 46,922 basic in 2026 and the full Rs. 49,550 from 1 January 2027. Recruitment notices quote the full scale, which with the listed allowances gives Rs. 110,551 a month.
How much does a Police Inspector (IP) earn?
An Inspector of Police is on RS 4-2025: Rs. 63,070 basic rising by 24 increments of Rs. 1,190 to Rs. 91,630. With the cost of living and special allowances, an IP receives about Rs. 95,995 at the first step and Rs. 130,839 at the top, before food and lodging and duty allowances. In 2026 the first step is paid Rs. 58,331 basic.
How much does a Chief Inspector earn in Sri Lanka Police?
A Chief Inspector is on RS 5-2025: Rs. 72,800 basic rising by 17 increments of Rs. 1,400 to Rs. 96,600. With the cost of living and special allowances that is about Rs. 107,866 a month at the first step and Rs. 136,902 at the top. In 2026 the first step is paid Rs. 66,544 basic.
How do you become an OIC of a police station?
You first reach Inspector rank, either by promotion from constable and sergeant or by joining as a Sub Inspector and being promoted. OIC postings and transfers are ordered by the Inspector General of Police with the approval of the National Police Commission.
Is a police constable salary higher than a government clerk salary?
Yes, at entry. A constable starts on Rs. 49,550 basic, a little above a Grade III Management Service Officer on Rs. 48,470, and the constable also receives a police special allowance and a Rs. 28,800 food and lodging allowance. The trade-off is shift work, risk and transfers anywhere on the island.
What is the women police constable salary?
Women police constables are recruited to the same Police Constable post, which PA Circular 10/2025 places on RS 1-2025, Rs. 49,550 to Rs. 71,420 basic. The allowances depend on the recruitment notice; the June 2025 gazette we read was for male constables, so check the WPC notice for its exact allowance list.
Sources
- Public Administration Circular 10/2025 - Ministry of Public Administration (police salary codes, special allowance, phased payments)
- Post of Police Constable (Male) - Gazette Part I Section IIA, 20 June 2025
- Post of Sub Inspector of Police - Gazette, 30 April 2026 (SI food and lodging allowance)
- 25 Police Inspectors including several OICs transferred with immediate effect - Ada Derana, 21 November 2025
- Sri Lanka Police - Wikipedia (number of police stations, rank structure)
Updated Reviewed by SalaryLK Editorial TeamHow we research salaries