News
Ministerial Consultative Committee on Labour agrees to present Employees’ Provident Fund (Amendment) Bill for second reading
The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Labour agreed to present the Employees’ Provident Fund (Amendment) Bill in Parliament for second reading. The committee also agreed to present an order to Parliament under the Employees Provident Fund Act.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Labour chaired by the Minister of Labour Nimal Siripala de Silva in Parliament on Monday (4).
Sri Lankans, especially those employed in India, are required by law to contribute to the Indian Social Security Fund. However, they have to wait until they turn 58 to receive contributions to the Social Security Fund on their return from service.
Despite the age limit, Indian employees working in Sri Lanka are eligible to withdraw money from the Social Security Fund when they return to their home country. Accordingly, the Employees Provident Fund (Amendment) Act is due to be presented in Parliament on Thursday the 7th October, making necessary amendments to enable Sri Lankan workers working in India to receive contributions made to the Social Security Fund before the age of 58.
Also, the Committee agreed to present an order on the same day (07) under the Employees Provident Fund Act to use modern technology in the registration of employees for the Employees Provident Fund and to obtain the information of monthly contributions of the EPF members through their mobile phone SMS Alert service.
The Committee was also briefed on the Order made under the Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act No. 47 of 1956 which was presented in Parliament on Monday (4).
State Minister Priyankara Jayaratne, Members of Parliament John Seneviratne and Gevindu Kumaratunga were also present at the committee meeting.
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.
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
Implementing the programme to provide concession for pepper, coffee and cardamom plantations affected by the disaster
Cabinet nod to obtain diagnostic reports under public-private partnership
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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