Business
Sri Lanka launches national guidelines for Bipartite OSH Committees on World Day for Safety and Health at Work
The Ministry of Labour and Foreign Employment announced the nation-wide rollout of guidelines on establishing Bipartite Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Committees at Workplaces during the ‘World Day for Safety and Health at Work’ event on the 28th of April 2023.
The guidelines were initially developed by Better Work Sri Lanka Programme, a joint initiative between the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), specifically for the country’s garment industry. The nation-wide rollout marks a significant step towards improving health, safety, and overall well-being for the workforce in Sri Lanka.
The event brought together more than 280 participants, comprising representatives from government institutions, leading industries, trade unions, development partners, the Employers Federation of Ceylon (EFC), the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), and international buyers.
The event introduced the national guidelines on Bipartite OSH Committees, a platform composed of management and union/worker representatives with different roles, expertise, and experiences to assist the employer in creating a culture of safety to improve the workforce’s physical and mental health, safety, and well-being. Emphasis has been placed on ensuring female representation in the bipartite OSH committees to encourage them to take leadership in OSH functions. Furthermore, the initiative creates a platform for good communication, coordination and cooperation between workers, their representatives and employers.
This national rollout is seen as a significant and timely step for OSH. The right to a “safe and healthy working environment” was included as one of the ILO’s fundamental principles and rights at work in June 2022.
During the event, the Chief Guest, Manusha Nanayakkara, Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment, highlighted the importance of prioritizing a safe and healthy work environment for all workers nationwide. “Respecting, promoting, and realizing the absolute right to a safe and healthy working environment is of utmost importance,” he noted. “OSH is a fundamental right for all workers, and we are committed to creating a sustainable and resilient future for them.”
Ms. Simrin Singh, Country Director of the ILO in Sri Lanka, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need to implement strong OSH measures across all sectors to cater to the different requirements of workplaces. “We also need to prioritize OSH, using bipartite committees as an example and a testament of the relevant stakeholders’ collective ability to safeguard employees, ultimately leading to increased productivity,” she stated.
R.P.A Wimalaweera, Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Foreign Employment, added that it is crucial to implement OSH measures from the grassroots level, especially within SMEs, by taking a multi-dimensional approach. He stressed the need for legislative and regulatory frameworks for OSH in line with Conventions, stating that OSH is not just a moral obligation but a legal right.
“Employers and employees must prioritize safety and health through implementing new regulations, employee training, safety committees, and cultivating a safety first culture. Personal protective equipment alone is insufficient for a safe work environment,” said Commissioner General of Labour B. K. Prabath Chandrakeerthi.
Looking towards the future, Mr. Kesava Murali Kanapathy, Head of Better Work Sri Lanka programme, expressed the importance of effective partnerships with relevant stakeholders to ensure that the right to a safe and healthy working environment is upheld. “The nation-wide adoption of the Guidelines is a milestone for the country and the right step to promoting OSH,” he said.
The event also featured a panel discussion on the importance of OSH and OSH as a fundamental right, moderated by Dr. Aseni Wickramatillake, Occupational Health and Hygiene Practitioner and Secretary of WSHA. The panellists included Dr. Nirmalie Champika Amarasinghe, Director General of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH); Eng E. Abeysiriwardena, Additional Commissioner General of Labour (Engineering); Mr. Vajira Ellepola, Director General/Chief Executive Officer of The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC) and Mr. Leslie Devendra, General-Secretary of Sri Lanka Nidahas Sevaka Sangamaya (SLNSS), Sri Lanka.
With COVID-19 having spotlighted the importance of health and safety, Mr. Devendra stated that Trade Unions are now prioritising OSH in the workplace. “Fighting for a survival wage has always been a priority among trade unions in a developing country like ours, but following the pandemic, we in the leadership see OSH as one of the top priorities in the workplace,” he said.
Meanwhile, EFC Director General and CEO Mr. Vajira Ellepola stressed, “Collaboration and communication between workers, their representatives, and employers to create an effective OSH management system is critical. Through the implementation of bipartite committees, we hope that we recognize health & safety as fundamental principles and rights at work,”
During the panel discussion, the speakers agreed that with OSH being declared a fundamental principle and right, workers and employers see employee safety as a common area of interest which can be enabled through a robust regulatory framework that encourages a culture of safety and well-being in the workplace.
Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka’s #1 connectivity provider, joins the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka (IESL) to launch the IESL National Startup Challenge, creating a national pathway for aspiring entrepreneurs to transform innovative ideas into commercially viable, investment-ready startups. The initiative reflects a shared commitment to strengthening Sri Lanka’s entrepreneurship ecosystem through structured development, expert mentorship and practical support that enables promising ideas to progress towards market readiness and scale.
Launched through the IESL Entrepreneurship Forum at the Dialog Auditorium on 5 October 2026, the competition invites Engineering Undergraduates, Engineering Practitioners and participants in an Open Category for Non-Engineers to submit ideas across 12 innovation verticals aligned with national priorities, emerging technology and market trends, and inclusive innovation. Participants will progress through idea development, pitching, incubation, prototyping, validation, minimum viable product development and business scaling, supported by industry experts, mentors and ecosystem partners. The programme will culminate in a Top 10 selection, with the first-place winner receiving an award of LKR 1 million.
As title sponsor and a key ecosystem enabler, Dialog is contributing practical expertise and resources beyond sponsorship, providing technical expertise, mentors and digital resources to help participating teams develop, validate and scale their solutions. Each of the Top 10 teams will also receive a Dialog Digital Startup Support Package valued at LKR 250,000, comprising selected Dialog digital products and services.
“Dialog is committed to enabling Sri Lanka’s next generation of innovators by connecting entrepreneurial ambition with the technology, expertise and practical resources needed to turn ideas into scalable ventures. Through the IESL National Startup Challenge, Dialog is extending its digital capabilities, mentorship and ecosystem support to help promising teams progress from concept to validation and investment readiness,” said a representative of Dialog Axiata PLC.
Eng. Jasmine Nanayakkara, Chairperson of the Entrepreneurship Forum at the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka, added, “The IESL National Startup Challenge is designed to turn innovative ideas into viable businesses by connecting aspiring entrepreneurs with industry expertise, mentorship and continuous practical support. More importantly, it is about creating an ‘Engineer to Entrepreneur’ transformation and nurturing a stronger entrepreneurial culture within the IESL community. By encouraging our engineers and aspiring founders to create, commercialise and scale solutions, we aim to contribute to new ventures, new opportunities and meaningful job creation for Sri Lanka’s skilled and educated next generation. We are grateful to Dialog for partnering with IESL to create this pathway for innovation, entrepreneurship and national economic growth.”
Driving innovation across Sri Lanka, the National Startup Challenge also brings together a strong network of partners, including The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce as Ecosystem and Mentoring Partner, Helago as Official Mobility Partner, Helakuru as Official Digital News Partner, and Real Life as Official Climate Action Partner.
The IESL National Startup Challenge represents a collaborative effort to strengthen Sri Lanka’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem by creating a structured pathway from promising ideas to market-ready businesses. Applications are now open via www.iesl.lk/announcements, giving aspiring entrepreneurs an opportunity to access the resources and funding they need to succeed. Applications close on 16th November 2026. For more information, contact mgr.pub@iesl.lk / 071 109 4393.
Keeping a home clean involves more than dealing with one kind of mess. Kitchens face grease and cooking splashes, bathrooms develop soap scum and limescale, while frequently used areas around the home collect marks, fingerprints and everyday dirt.
For households looking to simplify this routine, multi-surface cleaners offer a practical solution by allowing one product to tackle multiple cleaning needs across suitable surfaces.
One home, many everyday messes
In the kitchen, grease, splashes and burnt-on food can build up around hobs and hotplates. Cupboard doors and appliance exteriors can also collect smudges and marks through daily use.
Bathrooms present different challenges, including limescale, soap scum, toothpaste residue and water marks around sinks, washbasins and shower doors.
Even outside these rooms, surfaces such as door handles, baseboards, table mats and PVC areas can require regular attention.
Making everyday cleaning simpler
This is where the versatility of products such as CIF Cream becomes useful.
CIF Cream can help tackle a range of common household cleaning challenges across suitable surfaces, from grease and burnt-on food in the kitchen to limescale and soap scum in the bathroom.
Its uses can also extend to other suitable areas and items around the home, including cupboard doors, appliance exteriors, PVC surfaces and more, when used according to product directions.
For busy households, the benefit is straightforward: a versatile cleaner can help reduce the complexity of everyday cleaning by addressing several common cleaning needs with one product.
Consumers should always follow product instructions and check suitability before using any cleaner on a particular surface.
CIF products are now available at Cargills, Keells, Glomark and Celeste, as well as online through Daraz and uStore, at a retail price of Rs. 900 for 500ml. Shop CIF online at https://ustore.lk/collections/cif or https://www.daraz.lk/cif/
As household routines continue to evolve, multi-surface cleaning provides a simple approach to keeping different areas of the home clean — one versatile solution for many of the everyday messes that come with daily life.
SriLankan Airlines set dreams in motion for 24 young students selected to represent Sri Lanka at the 2026 International Mathematics and Science Olympiad, held in Indonesia from 2 to 7 October 2026, helping make their journey to Indonesia and back an extra special one.
The students were selected through a four-stage national selection process covering school, zonal, provincial and national levels, with the highest-performing students progressing at each stage.
As a special initiative for Children’s Day, the Ministry of Education sponsored the air travel of all 24 students for the first time. Returning to Sri Lanka with an impressive haul of three Silver Medals and 10 Bronze Medals, the young contestants competed alongside students from 23 countries.
SriLankan Airlines was privileged to be part of their special journey, helping make their experience even more memorable as they represented Sri Lanka on the international stage.
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