2026-01-08
Approval of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Labour has been granted for the Regulation under Shop and Office Employees (Regulation of Employment and Remuneration) Act (Chapter 129), scheduled for debate in Parliament tomorrow (Jan. 9).
This approval was granted at the meeting of the Committee held in Parliament on 2026.01.06, chaired by the Minister of Labour (Dr.) Anil Jayantha and with the participation of the Deputy Minister of Labour Mahinda Jayasinghe.
This Regulation, made by the Minister of Labour on 2025.12.12, was presented to Parliament on 2025.12.18. The Regulation amends the current legal provision which states:
“Any female employee who has attained the age of eighteen years may be employed in a residential hotel after 6.00 p.m and before 6.00 a.m, on the work of a female reception officer, ladies linen room attendant, ladies cloak room attendant or ladies lavatory attendant.”
Accordingly, the Regulation introduces the required legal amendments to allow, in addition to the designated categories already permitted, female workers over the age of 18 employed in residential hotels as Food and Beverage Stewardess to be engaged in employment after 6.00 p.m. or before 6.00 a.m. on the following day.
However, officials informed the Committee that under this Regulation, in any instance where the work shift of a female employer employed under this provision ends between 6.00 p.m. and 6.00 a.m., the employer shall be responsible for ensuring her health care, safety and welfare by providing suitable accommodation until 6.00 a.m. or providing transport facilities to her usual residence.
Although the current female population in Sri Lanka is approximately 51%, female labour force participation is around 34%. It was discussed that easing existing legal restrictions is a timely need in order to create opportunities to increase female labour contributions, especially to support the rapidly developing tourism sector.
A number of proposals on measures that can be taken to safeguard the rights of female workers and other employees, as well as matters relating to increasing the wages of plantation workers, were presented to the Committee by Hon. Members of Parliament. The Hon. Minister of Labour stated that discussions on these matters will be carried out in the future and necessary steps will be taken accordingly.
A number of Members of Parliament, the Secretary to the Ministry of Labour, and officials representing the Ministry of Labour and institutions under it also participated in this Committee meeting.
2026-10-28
The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism met in Parliament on the Oct. 23rd, under the Chairmanship of the Hon. Minister Vijitha Herath.The Committee discussed the measures taken to ensure the safety and welfare of Sri Lankan workers employed in Israel amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Ministry officials explained the steps taken to arrange special flights for workers whose travel had been delayed due to flight cancellations. They also outlined arrangements to provide temporary accommodation and meals when necessary.The importance of entering into agreements with foreign countries to ensure the safety and welfare of Sri Lankan workers seeking employment abroad was also discussed.In addition, the Committee discussed difficulties in using Russian roubles for trade transactions with Russia and possible alternative payment methods.Matters relating to the safety and welfare of Sri Lankans living and working overseas, foreign employment agreements and the implementation of tourism projects were also discussed.A group of Members of Parliament and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism attended the meeting.
2026-10-28
The budget estimates relating to the Appropriation Bill for 2027, the management of public revenue and expenditure, and priority development projects were discussed at the Committee on Public Finance of Parliament.These matters were discussed with officials of the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development at a recent meeting of the Committee held in Parliament on the Oct. 22nd, under the Chairmanship of the Hon. Member of Parliament Dr. Harsha de Silva.The meeting was attended by the Hon. Deputy Minister Nishantha Jayaweera, Dr. Kaushalya Ariyarathne, and Members of Parliament Ravi Karunanayake, Harshana Rajakaruna, Ajith Agalakada, Nimal Palihena, Attorney-at-Law Chithral Fernando, Wijesiri Basnayake, Thilina Samarakoon and Attorney-at-Law Lakmali Hemachandra, among others.During the meeting, officials presented details of the estimated government expenditure for 2027, allocations for capital expenditure, public revenue targets and debt servicing. The Committee also considered the macroeconomic forecasts used in preparing the budget estimates and the legal framework governing public financial management.The Committee also examined the allocations for infrastructure projects included in the estimated capital expenditure for 2027. These projects include road development, improvements to healthcare and education facilities, expansion of the electricity system and urban development.Matters relating to financial assistance for small and medium-sized enterprises, credit guarantee schemes and support for the business sector were also discussed. The Committee further focused on allocations for public sector salaries and pensions, as well as expenditure required to meet public service needs.In addition, Ministry officials explained the foreign debt servicing requirements for 2027, expected foreign financing and public debt management. The Committee also discussed measures to achieve public revenue targets, improve the efficiency of tax administration and ensure the proper utilization of budgetary allocations.
2026-10-28
The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) examined the Auditor General’s Triennial Report for 2021–2023, the Auditor General’s Reports for 2024 and 2025, and the current performance of the Central Provincial Council.The matter was taken up when the Committee on Public Accounts, chaired by the Hon. Member of Parliament Kabir Hashim, met at Parliament recently (Oct. 22). The Committee also followed up on matters discussed at its meeting held on 21 May 2026.Discussions focused on the progress of road development and passenger transport projects in the Central Province, shortcomings in the preparation of road cost estimates, payments made for construction work that did not meet the required standards, and payments for additional work carried out without proper approval.The Committee also examined the failure to properly use Electronic Ticketing Machines (ETMs) and GPS/SIM-based systems introduced to improve the efficiency of passenger transport services. Officials were asked about the steps taken to resolve technical issues and ensure that these systems function effectively.The unauthorized subleasing of lands and buildings belonging to the Road Development Authority, the recovery of outstanding rental payments, and issues relating to the ownership of state property were also discussed.Special attention was given to the legal issues arising from the failure to recover rent for the Malabar House building, which had been provided to a project office under the Grama Shakthi Programme. The Committee considered the steps taken to obtain advice from the Attorney General’s Department to resolve these issues.The Committee also discussed the recovery of incentives paid to officers involved in KMTT projects where the intended objectives had not been achieved. In addition, the need to follow the relevant regulations when sharing income generated through the use of state property, and to make productive use of abandoned or underutilized buildings and other properties, was highlighted.The Committee further inquired into disciplinary investigations and related legal proceedings concerning the destruction of official files without following the proper procedures.The meeting was attended by the Hon. Deputy Minister Nalin Hewage and Hon. Members of Parliament Ajith P. Perera, Attorney-at-Law Thushari Jayasingha, T. K. Jayasundara, Susantha Kumara Nawarathna, Manjula Suraweera Arachchi, Chandana Sooriyaarachchi, Oshani Umanga and Chanaka Madugoda.
2026-10-27
The Parliamentary Select Committee of Parliament to look into and report to Parliament on the matter of selecting the Electoral System under which the Provincial Council Elections should be held and submit its proposals and recommendations in that regard, obtained the views and proposals of several political parties.This took place when the Select Committee met recently in Parliament under the chairmanship of its Chairman, Hon. Minister Vijitha Herath.At the meeting, Hon. Member of Parliament Tahir Marikkar presented the views and proposals of the All-Ceylon Makkal Congress, while Mr. Nuwan Bellanthudawa presented the views of the New Freedom Front. Former Member of Parliament M. A. Sumanthiran presented the views and proposals of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi.The purpose of the discussion was to obtain the views of different political parties on the electoral system that should be adopted for conducting Provincial Council elections.Hon. Deputy Ministers Muneer Mulaffer and Sunil Watagala and members of the Select Committee, Hon. Members of Parliament Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam, President’s Counsel M. Nizam Kariapper, Dharmapriya Wijesinghe, Samanmali Gunasinghe, Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi and Susantha Dodawaththa also attended the meeting.
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