Police SI Salary in Sri Lanka 2026

This page covers the officer ranks people search for most: Sub Inspector (SI), Inspector (IP) and Assistant Superintendent (ASP), and how to enter at SI or ASP level. For an overview of every rank and working conditions in the service, see our Sri Lanka Police salary guide. For constable recruitment and the full step-by-step process, read how to become a police officer in Sri Lanka.

What are the 2025 police salary scales?

Public Administration Circular 10/2025 replaced the 2016 scales from 1 January 2025. Constables to Chief Inspectors now sit on five "Police / Regulatory Services" codes, RS 1-2025 to RS 5-2025. ASPs, SPs, SSPs and DIGs are on the executive code SL 1-2025, and the IGP on SL 3-2025. The circular also cut the old police special allowance from 40% of salary to 22% of salary plus Rs. 1,250 a month.

The last column below adds only the two allowances every officer receives: the Rs. 17,800 cost of living allowance and the 22% plus Rs. 1,250 special allowance, at the first step of each scale. Food and lodging, arduous duty and posting allowances come on top.

Full scales: RS 1-2025 Rs. 49,550 - 7 x 540 - 27 x 670 - Rs. 71,420; RS 2-2025 Rs. 54,000 - 9 x 670 - 17 x 890 - Rs. 75,160; RS 3-2025 Rs. 55,410 - 7 x 670 - 2 x 890 - 25 x 1,190 - Rs. 91,630; RS 4-2025 Rs. 63,070 - 24 x 1,190 - Rs. 91,630; RS 5-2025 Rs. 72,800 - 17 x 1,400 - Rs. 96,600; SL 1-2025 Rs. 82,150 - 10 x 2,400 - 8 x 2,940 - 17 x 3,900 - Rs. 195,970.

Police SI salary and allowances in 2026

The Sub Inspector recruitment notice in the Gazette of 30 April 2026 lists exactly what a new probationary SI in the General Police Service receives each month:

After training, SIs posted to the Jaffna peninsula get a Rs. 3,000 peninsula allowance, and those in operational zones a small Rs. 500 allowance. The SI increment is Rs. 670 for the first seven years, Rs. 890 for two years and then Rs. 1,190 a year, so basic pay climbs slowly to Rs. 91,630.

Special Task Force SIs are on the same scale, with a Rs. 1,500 incentive allowance during training. Once duties are assigned they add 25% of basic salary (Rs. 13,852.50 at step 1), a Rs. 800 VIP security allowance after that course, and an 8% station allowance at entitled camps.

What is the Sri Lanka Police ASP salary?

ASPs are on the same executive scale as Sri Lanka Administrative Service officers, SL 1-2025. A 2026 notice for reserve ASPs (telecommunication and electronic engineers) published the full allowance list. Using it, an ASP at the first step receives:

The ASP also gets transport, medical welfare and uniforms. Because the 22% special allowance rises with basic pay, the gap between an ASP and an SI widens as both earn increments. Gross pay near Rs. 160,000 is just above the Rs. 150,000 monthly APIT threshold, so a small amount of income tax may be deducted depending on which allowances are taxable.

Why serving officers may see a lower basic in 2026

The 2025 revision is paid in three stages. Officers converted from the old 2016 scales receive Rs. 5,000 plus 30% of the rest of their increase from April 2025, Rs. 5,000 plus 65% from January 2026, and the full new salary from 1 January 2027. A serving IP or SI may therefore see a basic on the payslip below the scale step shown here until 2027. Recruitment notices quote the full scale, as above. The same phasing applies across the public service; see the government salary scale 2026 guide.

How do you become a police SI in Sri Lanka?

1. Check eligibility. The April 2026 notice required six O/L passes in not more than two sittings, with credits in five subjects including Mathematics, Science, Sinhala or Tamil and English; three A/L passes at one sitting (General Test excluded); age 18 to 25 (serving police officers up to 28); unmarried; height at least 5 feet 6 inches and chest 32 inches; eyesight of 6/12 in each eye without glasses.
2. Apply online. Applications go through the "join us" option on police.lk. The 2026 intake closed on 5 June 2026.
3. Preliminary test and endurance test. A 1,000 m run under 5 minutes is compulsory, plus chin-ups, push-ups, sit-ups, squat thrusts and a memory test. General Police Service candidates need 50% of the marks; STF candidates 60%.
4. Written examination. Two papers: comprehension and language, and general knowledge and intelligence, each with a 40% pass mark.
5. Interview, background check and medical. Five candidates per vacancy are interviewed, then the top-ranked go through background checks and a medical at the Police Hospital.
6. Training and probation. Basic training is at the Sri Lanka Police College, followed by three years of probation and a five-year service agreement.

Constable entry needs lower qualifications and is covered in our police recruitment guide. If you are weighing uniformed careers, compare SI pay with the army commando and rank salary list and navy officer salary.

What qualifications do you need to join as an ASP?

There are two routes to ASP. Most ASPs are promoted from Inspector and Chief Inspector after years of service and departmental examinations. A smaller number join directly as graduates when the Police advertises ASP posts in the Gazette.

Recent direct-entry notices have been for specialists. The 2026 reserve ASP notices asked for a four-year degree in the relevant field (engineering, IT or architecture) from a UGC-recognised university, professional membership where applicable, at least three years of experience after the degree, and an age of 25 to 45. Men needed a height of 5 feet 6 inches and a 32-inch chest; women 5 feet 4 inches. Selection was by structured interview. Requirements for a general ASP intake can differ, so always work from the current gazette. Graduates comparing state careers can also look at the government administrative officer salary, which is on the same SL 1-2025 scale.

Police officer career path and pay progression

A direct-entry SI can be promoted to Inspector, Chief Inspector and then ASP. The step from CI (RS 5-2025, up to Rs. 96,600) to ASP (SL 1-2025, up to Rs. 195,970) is the biggest jump in police pay, because it moves the officer onto the executive scale. Above ASP, Superintendents, Senior Superintendents and Deputy Inspectors General stay on SL 1-2025 and draw higher steps, while the IGP is on SL 3-2025.

Compared with other entry-level state jobs, a new SI's Rs. 120,700 package is well above a Management Service Officer or government clerk, largely because of the food and lodging allowance. The trade-offs are shift work, transfers anywhere on the island and a strict probation. For the bigger picture, see government vs private salaries and security industry salaries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

1. Public Administration Circular 10/2025 - Ministry of Public Administration (RS 1-2025 to RS 5-2025, SL 1-2025, police special allowance, phased payment)
2. Post of Sub Inspector of Police (General Police Service / Special Task Force) - Gazette Part I Section IIA, 30 April 2026
3. Post of Reserve Assistant Superintendent of Police (Telecommunication and Electronic Engineer) - Sri Lanka Police, 2026
4. Sri Lanka Police ASP vacancies 2026 (reserve services) - summary of Gazette of 28 August 2026
5. Sri Lanka Police - official website and online recruitment