July 20, 2010: The government intends to increase the basic salary of Senior Professor from Rs. 57,755 to Rs. 200,000, said Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake in parliament today.
Minister Dissanayake was responding to an issue raised in parliament today by Democratic National Alliance (DNA) MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake, drawing the attention of the government towards revising the salary scales of university lecturers.
Anura said that the salaries of university lecturers should be increased if they were to continue in their profession with dignity.
“However, as promises that had been made to increase their salaries are always broken, university lecturers and intellectuals are showing interest in other professions.
“Some others leave the country and go abroad. There is no doubt that this situation is harmful to the country's education and development,” said the DNA member.
Responding, Minister S. B. Dissanayake said that the matter raised by DNA member Anura Kumara Dissanayake was true.
“We have been getting confused with the academic and non academic staff. It is a big mistake we have been making for a long period of time. I request parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayake to help us differentiate between academic and non academic staff as you have a lot of strength in the universities.
“If the non academic staff is requesting a similar salary as lecturers, that is wrong.
“Today we intend to increase the salaries of junior lecturers in the lowest grade, who receive Rs. 20,750 to Rs. 72,000. We also intend to increase the basic salary of Senior Professor from Rs. 57,755 to Rs. 200,000,” said S. B. Dissanayake.
