News
Postal strikers return to work following talks with minister
Postal workers resumed duties from 4.00 p.m. yesterday (24) following discussions with Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, ending a week-long strike that had disrupted postal services nationwide.
The industrial action, launched on Sunday (17) by several unions including the Postal and Telecommunications Officers’ Union and the United Postal Trade Unions’ Front (UPTUF), was prompted by 19 unresolved demands. During the strike, many post offices came to a standstill, leaving customers facing significant delays.
Speaking after the talks, Minister Jayatissa said postal workers had agreed to suspend the trade union action and return to normal duties. “While the government was not ready to discuss two main requests from the unions, it is ready to address the remaining 17,” he noted.
The Minister also announced that biometric attendance systems would be introduced from Monday at the operations and administrative divisions of the Central Mail Exchange, and the government’s proposed overtime payment regulations, effective from March, will be implemented without changes.
Union leaders confirmed the decision. Chinthaka Bandara, co-convener of UPTUF, said the unions were prepared to continue discussions with the Minister.
Jagath Mahinda, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Postal Services Association, said a large number of striking postal employees had returned to work, and postal service would return to normal tomorrow.
The week-long strike caused more than 500,000 domestic and international letters and parcels to accumulate, according to Manjula Bandara Jayasundara, General Secretary of the Postal and Telecommunication Officers’ Association. He said that around 350,000 items had already piled up by last Friday, with the total expected to exceed 500,000 due to the work stoppage.
by Chaminda Silva and Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon ✍️
The Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development has recommended the establishment of Sri Lankan Standards, i.e. the import testing methodology for imported tires used for passenger cars and pneumatic tires for three-wheelers with the aim of ensuring a fair competitive environment for local
manufactures and ensuring consumer safety and security.
Taking into the said recommendations, “Import and Export (control regulations N0.08 of the 2026)” has been enacted to amend the existing regulations by means of the Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 2508/27 dated 2026-10-01, prescribing Sri Lanka standard 1212 for the import of passenger types (HS Code 4011.10.90) and Sri Lanka standard 1347 for the import of
pneumatic tires for three – wheeled vehicles (HS Code 4011.90.10).
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development to submit the aforementioned regulations to Parliament for approval.
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 02.06.2025 to introduce a new act to promote and providing legal provisions for facilitating the Public Private Joint Enterprises within Sri Lanka as well as the establishment of the National Agency for Public Private Partnership Joint Enterprises.
Accordingly, the Legal Draftsman has formulated the relevant draft bill and the Attorney General has given his clearance to the said draft bill.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to publish the said
draft bill in the government gazette notification and thereby submit it to the Parliament for its concurrence.
Regulation, development and control of indigenous medical sector in Sri Lanka comprised of Ayurvedha, Sidhdha, Unani, Local Therapies are carried out under the provisions of Ayurvedha Act No. 31 of 1961.
Although amendments were made to the act from time to time as per the requirements, the necessity of further amending the Ayurvedha Act has been identified to enable efficiently maintaining all activities of local medical field productively, further formalizing the regulation of the sector, taking actions to providing licenses applicable to export of local medicines, and achieving the progress and sustainable development goals in the local medical sector.
Based on the said factors, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to direct the Legal Draftsman to formulate a draft bill to amend the Ayurvedha Act No. 31 of 1961.
Import and Export (Control) Regulations No. 08 of 2026
Draft Bill of the Public Private Partnership Enterprises Act to be gazzetted
Amendment of the Ayurvedha Act No. 31 of 1961
Cabinet nod to amend the Sri Lanka Development Administration Institute Act No. 9 of 1982
Establishment of the National Higher Performance Centre
State patronage for the cremation ceremony of the late deputy prelate (Anu Nayaka Thero) of the Sri Laka Ramangya Maha Nikaya, Gatambe Rajopawanramadhipatha, Siri Chandawimala Wanshalankara, Chandrakeerthi Sri Amarawansha, Sadhdharmawageeshwara, Shasanashobhanna Most Venerable Keppetiyagoda Siriwimalabhidhana Thero
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
Features3 days agoKotahena:A Small Enclave, An Extraordinary Legacy
-
News7 days agoSri Lanka, India caught in US-Iran ship crisis
-
News4 days agoAsgiri Mahanayake calls for immediate release of Gnanasara Thera
-
News3 days agoRecord 1,600 students take Russian Classical Ballet examination in Sri Lanka
-
News6 days agoAC President recuses himself from hearing prison attire case pertaining to Gnanasara Thera
-
News5 days agoNaval officer testifies Yoshitha received Rs. 5.15 mn in salaries during SLN service
-
Latest News7 days agoHeavy showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Central, and North-western provinces and in Anuradhapura district.
-
News3 days agoKarannagoda pushed for £24,536 for Yoshitha’s UK training, Court told