The Ministry of Labour has clarified recent media reports claiming that Sri Lanka was ranked 120th globally in an international comparison of national minimum wages, stating that the ranking is based on 2024 data and does not reflect the country’s current minimum wage levels.
In a media release issued on 4 September 2026, the Ministry said the reported comparison was based on data published by Visual Capitalist and was not a report prepared or published by the International Labour Organization (ILO).
The Ministry further noted that the ILO had confirmed it was not involved in preparing or publishing the ranking. It added that international comparisons based on purchasing power parity-adjusted figures should be interpreted with caution, as minimum wage systems vary significantly among countries.
According to the Ministry, Sri Lanka’s national minimum wage has undergone significant increases since 2024. The monthly minimum wage, which stood at Rs. 12,500 at the beginning of 2024, was increased to Rs. 17,500 from September 2024, while a mandatory Budgetary Relief Allowance of Rs. 3,500 brought the total applicable minimum monthly remuneration to Rs. 21,000.
The Ministry said the national minimum wage was subsequently increased to Rs. 27,000 from April 2025 and further raised to Rs. 30,000 from January 2026, with the Budgetary Relief Allowance incorporated into the revised wage.
Emphasising that Sri Lanka's national minimum wage has increased by more than 87 percent between the beginning of 2024 and January 2026, the Ministry said the reported 120th ranking should be viewed in its proper context and should not be interpreted as an assessment of the country's current wage level.
The Ministry of Labour therefore urged the public and media to consider the significant progress made in strengthening Sri Lanka's national minimum wage when assessing such international comparisons.
