News

CFL urges government to abandon USAID inspired labour reforms

Published

4 years ago

2022/03/27

The Ceylon Federation of Labour (CFL) has accused President Gotabaya Rajapaksa of “clandestinely” undertaking a program of labour reforms through the Ministry of Justice “to set, what is euphemistically called, a conducive environment for investment, especially Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).”

In a statement iussued last week, CFL General Secretary TMR Rasseedin said that these changes are sought to be made through the justice ministry usurping the functions of the labour ministry and called upon the government to abandon these ongoing efforts.

“At the very outset it has to be categorically stated that the mandate the government received from the country at the last Presidential and Parliamentary Elections did not include labour law reforms and that too with the assistance of a foreign agency with questionable antecedents.

“Labour reforms find no mention in President Rajapaksa’s Manifesto ‘Saubagya Dekma’. We are astonished to find that the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has been engaged to review labour laws with the assistance of USAID, sans involvement of the Ministry of Labour and relevant stakeholders.”

Such an exercise, if at all, should be handled by the Ministry of Labour (MoL) and not by any other agency and, by doing so, the MoJ is usurping the role and responsibilities of the MoL to oversee matters involving labour in the country, the statement said.

“We hold the view that the MoL and the Department of Labour (DoL) hold the sole responsibility to manage issues related to labour in the country and oppose such interference by outside authorities. Previous attempts to promote such reforms catering to employer demands have been successfully beaten back by trade unions.

“In 2017 during the Yahapalana period, the then Minister of Labour abdicated his role and acquiesced in allowing the Ministry of Development Strategies & International Trade, with the assistance of some surrogate unions and the USAID to initiate labour reforms which were stymied in time by a strong protest by the overwhelming majority of unions in the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC), the statement said.

“This project is now being revived under the MOJ whose Minister recently earned notoriety for some uncalled for remarks on strikes, exposing the limits of his knowledge of not only international law but also our own National Workers Charter which continues to govern our labour relations. It has to be stated that unless otherwise officially retracted, the National Workers Charter constitutes the policy framework that regulates labour affairs in the country.

“We urge the Minister of Justice to take stock of the ground reality before he ventures into unfamiliar terrains such as labour reforms. In an evidence-based comparison of labour market regulations vis-a-vis FDI, CFL has found out that there is no empirical evidence to justify the type of labour law regime that capital is seeking to advance in order to enhance its profit.

“The statistics obtained by the CFL covers key East and South Asian economies such as Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, China, Myanmar, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and Nepal with which Sri Lanka is in competition to attract FDIs for export-based manufacturing industries.

“The labour markets of some of these countries are often quoted by local authorities and some policy advocates as ideally positioned for the inflow of FDIs. As verifiably evidence from the online statistical base of the Doing Business 2019 World Bank Report, labour market regulation in Sri Lanka is clearly the worst or far below average when compared with the above key regional economies “

This was in respect of matters such as Minimum Wages Statutory protection in hiring i.e. probation periods, fixed term contracts etc as well as many others, CFL said.

It said the present Minister of Labour sought to give a more precise definition to the different employment categories such as Fixed Term, etc. when he gazetted the Minimum Retirement Age of Workers Bill on 12.10.21.

“However, during its passage through Parliament, we saw the Interpretation Clause being reworked to appease employer interests. The CFL understands that the main focus of the MoJ-USAID inspired labour law reform agenda is to further whittle down clauses from our statutes such as these which protect workers and thereby pave the way for a race towards the bottom.,” the statement said.

“The politically ill-advised and cronyism-driven present exercise of the MoJ under the aegis of a foreign government development agency with a questionable political record has to be stymied before it further degrades the labour laws of the country, which even today is way below average for the region.”

The Ceylon Federation of Labour urged the government “to abandon this clandestine project without stirring unrest among the working class that may well turn out to be calamitous for the government.”

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Sun directly overhead Dodanduwa, Rathgama, Yakkalamulla, Akuressa, Mulgirigala, Ranna, Kalamatiya and Ussangoda at about 12:13 noon today (05th April)

Published

21 hours ago

2026/04/5

Priyan

On the apparent northward relative motion of the sun, it is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka during 05th to 15th of April in this year.

The nearest areas of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (05th) are Dodanduwa, Rathgama, Yakkalamulla, Akuressa, Mulgirigala, Ranna, Kalamatiya and Ussangoda at about 12:13 noon

Latest News

Heat Index at Caution Level in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Eastern, North-western, Northern and North-central provinces and in Monaragala district

Published

22 hours ago

2026/04/5

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 04 April 2026, valid for 05 April 2026

The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Eastern, North-western, Northern and North-central provinces and in Monaragala district.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

News

Global ‘Walk for Peace’ to be held in Lanka

Published

22 hours ago

2026/04/5

Thilina Walpola

The internationally recognized “Walk for Peace,” originating from the United States, is set to take place in Sri Lanka starting April 21, 2026, led by the Most Venerable Paññakara Thero and a delegation of twelve monks from the Maha Sangha, President’s Media Division said.

Spanning seven days across the island, this pilgrimage’s purpose and concept are guided by the Buddha’s teaching, “Caratha bhikkhave carikam bahujana hitaya bahujana sukhaya lokanukampaya” (Wander forth, O Monks, for the welfare and happiness of the many, out of compassion for the world).

This program aims to promote peace and lovingkindness within society. It serves as a practical demonstration that peace cannot be attained by force, but must be cultivated step-by-step through mindfulness.

The inaugural event of this program is scheduled to be held in Anuradhapura on April 21, 2026. A ceremony to receive the sacred sapling of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi will take place at 4:00 PM, followed by special religious observances at the sacred Ruwanweliseya premises at 5:00 PM.

Thereafter, the walk will commence from the ancient Dambulla Royal Cave Temple and proceed towards Kandy. Upon reaching Kandy, the Maha Sangha will pay their respects to the Chief Prelates (Maha Nayaka Theros) of the Malwatta and Asgiriya Chapters, before visiting the Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic) to receive blessings.

Throughout the journey, the procession will carry the sacred sapling of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, along with venerated relics from the historic Nilagiri Cetiya, Madanwala Raja Maha Viharaya in Hanguranketa, Mahiyangana Raja Maha Viharaya, and the Hunupitiya Gangaramaya.

The walk will conclude at Independence Square in Colombo on April 28, 2026. Subsequently, the venerated relics and the sacred sapling of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi are to be carried from Independence Square to Gangaramaya Temple, Hunupitiya, Colombo by a procession.

The Sri Lankan coordination of the event is spearheaded by Venerable Melpitiye Wimalakirti Thera. The Government of Sri Lanka’s flagship national program, “Clean Sri Lanka,” serves as the principal state partner.

Additionally, the event receives extensive support from various state institutions, including the National Design Centre, the Tri-Forces, and the Department of Information.

At the conclusion of the seven-day walk, a special State Ceremony will be held at Independence Square in Colombo on April 28, 2026. Concurrently, a special exhibition showcasing Sri Lanka’s Buddhist heritage and traditional handicrafts will be organized by the National Design Centre at the Gangaramaya premises on April 28 and 29, 2026.

This exhibition will feature brass items (ceremonial fans, flags, statues, bowls, and pinnacles), lacquerwork (caskets and boxes), clay crafts (bowls and statues), palm leaf crafts (fans and sesath), natural dyeing of robes, Dumbara wall hangings, traditional drums, and traditional paintings.

The primary objective of this cultural program is to contribute Sri Lanka’s Buddhist and cultural heritage to a project in Texas, USA, where the Tripitaka is being inscribed in 10 languages and enshrined within 840 stupas to create a centre for Buddhist education.