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Advocata Institute identifies laws that discourage entry and retention of Lankan women in labour force

Published

4 years ago

2022/03/17

Advocata Institute says that Sri Lanka’s labour laws that discourage the entry and retention of women in the labour force are a factor preventing female participation in the workforce.

A report, titled ‘Gender Discriminatory Labour Laws in Sri Lanka and Female Labour Force Participation,’ recently launched by the Institute, says that the gender discriminatory labour laws, such as banning work at night, impacts female labour force participation.

The report identifies the lack of reference to part-time and flexible employment in the existing labour law, time restrictions on employing women at night, dearth of legal provisions for sexual harassment in employment and restrictions on overtime work for women, as legal obstacles that discourage women joining and actively participating in the workforce.

The report focused on four main areas of discrimination in the labour market: sexual harassment in the workplace, overtime work, work at night, and part-time work. The report highlighted that if these issues were addressed it is likely that female participation in the workforce would greatly improve which would benefit the economy and attract investment (particularly in the context of Sri Lanka’s tight labour market and the cost of labour).

In order to unblock the potential of the female labour force, the Advocata report proposes a series of reforms to existing legislation. These include amendments to the Shop and Office Employees (Regulation of Employment and Remuneration) Act No. 19 of 1945, Wages Board Ordinance No. 27 of 1941, Gratuity Act No. 12 of 1983, Industrial Disputes Act No. 43 of 1950, Factories Ordinance No. 45 of 1942, Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act No. 47 of 1956.

The launch event of the report was followed by a panel discussion. The panellists for the discussion included Attorney-at-Law Ayomi Fernando, International Centre for Ethnic Studies Independent Consultant and Research Associate Dr. Ramani Gunatilaka, MAS Women’s Empowerment, Advocacy and Code of Conduct General Manager Thanuja Jayawardene, and Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus Representative MP Thalatha Atukorale. The discussion was moderated by Advocata Institute Research Executive (Policy) Sathya Karunarathne.

MP Thalatha Atukorale stressed the importance of this by highlighting that most of the existing legislation need amendments, while stressing, “We need to adopt new laws. With new sectors taking part in our economy, we have a need to amend the laws. The [Women’s] caucus has been working on political, social, environmental issues and doing our best effort to bring into the notice of the ministers.”

During the discussion, it was pointed out that firms in the private sector who wished to hire women often have to negotiate their way through complicated and archaic laws. Some firms may even forego this altogether and enter informal agreements which, however, do not provide sufficient protections for women.

Sri Lanka’s failure to recognise part-time employment under the Shop and Office Employees (Regulation of Employment and Remuneration) Act remains such a barrier. According to Thanuja Jayawardene, “Making part-time work available for female employees is an important step in increasing labour force participation. From the business point of view, it is more beneficial to accommodate part-time work rather than lose employees, irrespective of their gender.”

Dr. Ramani Gunatilaka further stressed the importance of the reform, “If part-time work is allowed, young people and students can get experience, develop networks and even start their own businesses. Women can and want to do this. So, reforms are essential.” She stressed on the urgency of implementing these reforms and the impact it can have on the economy, “The working-age population is declining, and unless female labour force participation is boosted, the economy will not be able to grow at the expected rate.”

Ayomi Fernando shared similar insights while bringing into context the importance of recognising the elimination of restrictions on employing women at night. She said “Provisions preventing women working overtime are affecting the female labour. Women do need protection; however, these laws should be balanced to ensure women have equal opportunities.”

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Advisory for Heavy Rain issued for the Central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Eastern and North-central provinces and in Galle and Matara districts

Published

3 hours ago

2026/02/22

Priyan

Advisory for Heavy Rain Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre at 08.30 a.m. on 22 February 2026 valid for the period until 08.30 a.m. 23 February 2026

Due to the influence of the low level atmospheric disturbance in the vicinity of Sri Lanka, Heavy showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in Central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Eastern and North-central provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.

Therefore, general public is advised to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by heavy rain, strong winds and lightning during thundershowers

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Matara Festival for the Arts’ inaugurated by the Prime Minister

Published

9 hours ago

2026/02/22

Priyan

The inaugural ceremony of the Matara Festival for the Arts, featuring a wide range of creations by local and international artists, was held on February 19 at the Old High Court premises of the Matara Fort, under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

The festival, centred around the Old High Court premises in Matara and the auditorium of the Matara District Secretariat, will be open to the public from 20 to 23 of February. The festival will be featured by visual art exhibitions, short film screenings, Kala Pola, and a series of workshops conducted by experts.

The inaugural event was attended by the Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Ms. Saroja Paulraj, along with artists, guests, and a large number of schoolchildren.

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)

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Only single MP refuses salary as Parliament details pays and allowances

Published

13 hours ago

2026/02/22

Thilina Walpola

SJB Badulla District MP Nayana Wasalathilake is the only MP to forego salary and allowances, with all payments suspended following his written notification on August 20, 2025.

Only one Member of Parliament has chosen not to receive the salaries and allowances entitled to MPs, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya revealed in Parliament last Thursday, shedding light on the financial perks enjoyed by members of the Tenth Parliament.

Speaking on Thursday (Feb. 19) in response to a question from SJB Badulla District MP Chaminda Wijesiri, the Prime Minister outlined the full range of pay and allowances provided to parliamentarians.

According to Dr. Amarasuriya, MPs receive a monthly allowance of Rs. 54,285, an entertainment allowance of Rs. 1,000, and a driver’s allowance of Rs. 3,500—though MPs provided with a driver through the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs are not eligible for the driver’s allowance.

Additional benefits include a telephone allowance of Rs. 50,000, a transport allowance of Rs. 15,000, and an office allowance of Rs. 100,000. MPs are also paid a daily sitting allowance of Rs. 2,500 for attending parliamentary sessions, with an additional Rs. 2,500 per day for participation in parliamentary sittings and Rs. 2,500 per day as a committee allowance.

Committee meetings held on non-parliament sitting days also attract Rs. 2,500 per day.

Fuel allowances are provided based on the distance between an MP’s electoral district and Parliament. National List MPs are entitled to a monthly allocation equivalent to 419.76 litres of diesel at the market price on the first day of each month.

Despite the comprehensive benefits, only SJB Badulla District MP Nayana Wasalathilaka has opted not to draw a salary or allowances. Dr. Amarasuriya said that in accordance with a written notification submitted by MP Wasalathilaka on August 20, 2025, payments have been suspended since that date.

The Prime Minister also confirmed that she, along with the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, committee chairs, ministers, deputy ministers, the Opposition Leader, and senior opposition whips, have all informed the Secretary-General of Parliament in writing that they will not claim the fuel allowance.

Challenging the ruling party’s voluntary pledge to forgo salaries, MP Wijesiri pointed out that all MPs except Wasalathilaka continue to receive their salaries and allowances. “On one hand you speak about the people’s mandate, which is good. But the mandate also included people who said they would voluntarily serve in this Parliament without salaries. Today we have been able to prove, Hon. Speaker, that except for one SJB MP, the other 224 Members are drawing parliamentary salaries,” he said.

The Prime Minister responded by defending the political culture and practice of allocating portions of MPs’ salaries to party funds. Referring to previous practices by the JVP and NPP, she said: “It is no secret to the country that the JVP has for a long time not personally taken MPs’ salaries or any allowances. I think the entire country knows that these go to a party fund. That is not new, nor is it something special to mention. The NPP operates in the same way. That too is not new; it is the culture of our political movement.”

When MP Wijesiri posed a supplementary question asking whether diverting salaries to party funds was an indirect method of taking care of MPs, Dr. Amarasuriya said: “There is no issue there. No question was raised; the Member made a statement. What we have seen throughout this week is an inability to understand our political culture and practice, and a clash with decisions taken by political movements that misused public funds. What is coming out is a certain mindset. That is why there is such an effort to find fault with the 159. None of these facts are new to people. He did not ask a question, so I have nothing to answer.”

The disclosures come days after the Government moved to abolish the parliamentary pension, a measure that has sparked renewed debate over MP compensation and the transparency of funds allocation.