News
Women MPs push for stronger protections for female plantation workers
The Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus has called for policy and legal reforms to address challenges faced by women in the workforce, particularly in the plantation sector. The discussion took place during a meeting held at the Parliamentary Complex last week, presided over by Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, the Parliament Media Division said.
Key issues highlighted included the lack of institutional support for female workers, the need for flexible working hours, and barriers preventing women from entering the workforce due to caregiving responsibilities. The Caucus also discussed voting rights for women who are unable to return home due to work commitments.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya noted that while women’s participation in some sectors has increased, workplace facilities remain inadequate, affecting productivity and job retention. Women and Child Affairs Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj, Chairperson of the Caucus, stressed the importance of creating a safe work environment and implementing social security measures to encourage female workforce participation.
Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the Parliament MP Hemali Weerasekera, Deputy Co-Chairpersons of the Caucus MPs Chamindrani Kiriella and Samanmali Gunasinghe and MPs Sagarika Athauda Dr Kaushalya Ariyarathne, Oshani Umanga, Krishnan Kalaichelvi, Nilanthi Kottahachchi, M.A.C.S. Chathuri Gangani, Nilusha Lakmali Gamage, Thushari Jayasingha, Anushka Thilakarathne, A.M.M.M. Rathwaththe, Deepthi Wasalage, Hiruni Wijesinghe, Ambika Samivel and Lakmali Hemachandra were also present at this meeting, said the release.
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development to award the contract for printing and supplying vehicle number plates for the Department of Motor Traffic for a period of five (5) years to M/s South Asian Technologies based on the recommendations of the High-Level Standing Procurement Committee and the Procurement Appeal Board.
The National Lotteries board has been established subject to the Finance Act No. 11 of 1963. Having identified the requirement of amending that act which was imposed around 62 years to cater the current requirements of the lottery market, the Cabinet of Mnisters at their meeting held on 14.02.2017 granted approval to draft a new bill for the purpose.
Accordingly, the National Lotteries Board has recognized further amendments to be performed to the fundamental draft bill prepared by the Legal Draftsmen.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the
resolution furnished by the President in his office as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to direct the Legal Draftsmen to finalize the formulation of the draft bill for the National Lotteries Board as soon as possible including the proposed new amendments as well.
The Werahara office of the Department of Motor Traffic performs issuance of temporary driving licenses in this country based on the driving licenses issued overseas, and measures have been initiated to render the service from a service window of the Department of Motor Traffic established at the Bandaranayake International Airport from 03.08.2025.
The fees charged for issuing temporary driving licenses have been published in Motor Vehicles (Driving License Levy) Regulations No. 3 of 2022 prepared under the provisions of the Motor Traffic (Authority 203) Act.
But, as the fee of Rupees 2,000/- charged for the service is not sufficient, the requirement of amending the regulations has been recognized.
The regulations for introducing the revised fees have been published in the government extraordinary gazette
notification No. 2463/04 dated 17.11.2025. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development to
submit the regulations to the Parliament for its concurrence.
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M/s South Asian Technologies awarded contract to supply vehicle number plates
A new act for National Lotteries Board to be introduced
Motor Vehicles (Driving License Levy) Regulations No. 3 of 2022 to be amended
Mrs. P. K. L. S. Panduwawala appointed to the post of Surveyor General
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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