A Rs. 25,000 increase in the monthly professional allowance for High Court Judges and other judicial officers has been proposed under the 2027 Budget, alongside revisions to transport, driver and housing allowances.
Presenting the Budget in Parliament Yesterday (12), President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the proposed increases recognised the professional responsibilities, nature of service and significant role of officers in the judicial sector.
Accordingly, the monthly professional allowance for High Court Judges, Special Grade Judicial Officers and Judicial Officers of other grades will increase by Rs. 25,000.
The increase will be introduced in two stages, with 50% taking effect from July 2027 and the remaining amount payable in 2028.
Transport, driver and housing allowances revised
The Government has also proposed several allowance revisions for judges, effective from July 2027.
The monthly transport allowance for officers entitled to official vehicles will increase by Rs. 50,000, while the driver allowance will rise from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 50,000.
Housing allowances for High Court Judges and other judges who are not provided with official residences will also be doubled.
Allowance increases for Attorney General's Department
Meanwhile, the monthly non-practising allowance for the Attorney General, Solicitor General and Senior State Counsel will be increased by Rs. 25,000.
Senior State Attorneys and State Attorneys will receive an increase of Rs. 20,000.
These increases will also be implemented in two phases, with 50% payable from July 2027 and the balance in 2028.
Eligible officers will receive a Rs. 50,000 increase in their transport allowance, while driver allowances will rise from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 50,000. Housing allowances will also be doubled with effect from July 2027.
Allowance revisions for Legal Draftsman's Department
The Budget further proposes increasing the special allowances of senior officers in the Legal Draftsman's Department by Rs. 25,000.
Senior Assistant Legal Draftsmen and Assistant Legal Draftsmen will receive an increase of Rs. 20,000.
The increases will be implemented in two phases beginning in July 2027. The driver allowance for eligible officers will also rise from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 50,000 from the same date.
Allowances for judicial support staff are also scheduled to be revised from April 2027.
Separately, Rs. 5,115 million has been allocated to expand and improve existing court facilities across several districts, while Rs. 60 million has been set aside for the digitalisation of the Government Analyst's Department.
