SLASSCOM: Tech pay stabilising as firms pivot to performance

SRI Lanka's technology services sector (including IT, BPM, and tech services) is entering a phase of pay normalisation, with companies moving away from crisis-era salary hikes and sharpening their focus on performanceand skill-based rewards, according to the SLASSCOM Compensation and Benefits Survey Report 2025.

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The survey, covering IT, BPM and tech-enabled businesses, shows incremental budgets settling into more sustainable levels, even as competition for skilled professionals remains tight and global cost pressures intensify.

According to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Computer and IT/BPO related services exports amounted to $671.6 million in the first ten months of 2025, down 3.8% from a year ago. Export earnings from the sector amounted to $ 848 million in 2024, up 6.7% from a year earlier.

In a statement, SLASSCOM said 72% of the companies returned from the 2024 survey, signalling strong continuity and industry-wide trust in the study.

This year's findings highlight how Sri Lankan organisations are recalibrating their total rewards strategies to respond to an increasingly competitive and dynamic technology landscape.

In 2025, companies are moving beyond traditional pay structures toward personalised benefits, role-specific incentives, and flexible work models that reflect evolving employee expectations.

Organisations are also prioritising career development, skills enhancement, and holistic employee experiences to attract and retain high-potential talent.

Key industry-wide trends