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New integrated labour law to overcome complexities of existing statutes
Steps are being taken to prepare the new integrated labour law to avoid the complexities of the existing employment statutes, Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment, Manusha Nanayakkara, recently told the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Labour and Foreign Employment affairs.
The Minister said they will start taking opinions and suggestions of all relevant parties from 02 May.The Minister said the country’s industrial law, which is currently scattered and complex, is expected to be converted into an integrated labour law, and it is an essential step to encourage local and foreign investors.
Thus, the new consolidated law will make the settlement of disputes between employers and employees easier. The Minister also said that these new laws will make the establishing and operating of business activities smoother, especially for foreign investors.
The attention of the Committee was also paid to businesses that are not registered in the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF). The Minister pointed out that only 80,000 business companies are registered in the Employees Provident Fund.
The Committee members said that immediate action should be taken against unregistered companies. Accordingly, it was decided to inform all divisional secretaries and local government commissioners, in writing, to send information about businesses, registered in different parts of the island, to the Ministry of Labour.
Also, the Minister instructed the Department of Labour and the Employees’ Provident Fund to submit a plan of possible future actions against companies that have not registered, within a month.The Minister also instructed the Foreign Employment Bureau to implement a programme to educate people about foreign employment.
The head of the Foreign Employment Bureau said that nearly 90,000 people, including 26,000 unskilled workers and over 60,000 skilled workers, have been sent for foreign jobs recently.
Meanwhile, MP Yadamini Gunawardena expressed his gratitude, on behalf of the Sri Lanka-Romania Parliamentary Friendship Association, for the steps taken to establish a Sri Lanka Embassy in Romania to solve the problems of Sri Lankans working there.
State Ministers Jagath Pushpakumara, D.B. Herath, members of Parliament, Vadivel Suresh, Akila Ellawala, Udayana Kirindigoda, Madhura Withanage, Yadamini Gunawardena, Velu Kumar, (Major) Sudarshana Denipitiya were also present at the committee meeting.
New controversy erupts over missing USD 2.5 mn:
Public interest activist Nagananda Kodituwakku has sought citizenship details of Finance Ministry Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma from the Department of Home Affairs, Australia.
According to a letter dated 28 April, addressed to the relevant department, Solicitor England and Wales Kodituwakku sought the required information in terms of Section 15 of the Freedom of Information Act No 3 of 1982 of Australia. Suriyapperuma is also the Secretary to the Treasury.
The former Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Suriyapperuma (from November 2024 to June 2025) is embroiled in a deepening controversy over the theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury.
The leader of the Vinivida Foundation said that he intended to move court against Suriyapperuma for entering Parliament through the NPP National List in violation of the country’s Constitution (Article 91(1)(d)(xiiii).
Kodituwakku said: “This is clearly an accountability and integrity issue and violation of the Constitution of Sri Lanka and also this act contravenes the law of a member in the Commonwealth.”
USD 2.5 mn paid to a third party was meant to be an instalment of a loan taken from Australia. Suriyapperuma neither responded to an SMS nor answered his hand phone.
Geetha Kumarasinghe (UPFA/Galle District) and Diana Gamage (SJB National List) lost their seats in 2017 and 2024, respectively, over citizenship issues.
Meanwhile, public interest group ‘Free Lawyers’ that exposed the theft of Treasury funds questioned the failure on the part of Dr. Harsha de Silva, Chairman of Committee on Public Finance (CoPF), to pressure President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to temporarily remove Suriyapperuma to facilitate unhindered investigations.
On behalf of ‘Free Lawyers’, Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon yesterday expressed concern over the way the CoPF, under SJBer de Silva’s leadership, handled the issue at hand. Issuing an open letter, Tennakoon, urged the CoPF chief to explain his stand on a spate of vital issues which needed to be addressed without any further delay.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
News
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake handing over a sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhiya in Anuradhapura to Ven Bhikku Pannakara
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake handing over a sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhiya in Anuradhapura to Ven Bhikku Pannakara (Sue Tue Nhan) at the conclusion of the 161 km ‘International Peace Walk’ in Colombo yesterday. The Bo-sapling will be taken to the US by the spiritual leader. Pic by Sujata Jayaratne
Cabinet Spokesman Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa yesterday revealed that a USD 625,000 payment made by Sri Lanka’s Department of Posts to the US Postal Service (USPS) had not been received by the intended party.
The declaration was made at the post-Cabinet media briefing.
According to the Minister, an investigation has been initiated into the incident.
The Minister said that an investigation was underway within the Sri Lanka Postal Department regarding the missing funds paid to the US Postal Service.
He added that the US Postal Service has indicated the non-receipt of a payment amounting to USD 625,000, and that investigations were being conducted by both the Postal Department and the CID to determine how the incident occurred.
Treasury chief’s citizenship details sought from Australia
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake handing over a sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhiya in Anuradhapura to Ven Bhikku Pannakara
USD 625,000 meant for US Postal Service goes missing
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