The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha
In response to a parliamentary question, details were tabled on proposed labour law reforms covering four areas: labour standards, industrial relations, occupational safety and health, and trade unions. The answer listed multiple statutes identified for amendment, including laws on maternity benefits, wages, shop and office employees, gratuity, minimum wages, retirement age, industrial disputes, factories, and trade unions. It stated that a Cabinet-appointed committee chaired by the Secretary to the Ministry of Labour is preparing proposals after consulting the National Labour Advisory Council, trade unions, employer associations, and the public, with completion expected within the year.
Verbatim record (translated)
Machine-translated from Sinhala / Tamil / English¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, I table the answer.
¶ 02 (a) (i) Yes. (ii) Four areas; the following Acts are being amended:
¶ 03 1. Labour Standards - Maternity Benefits Ordinance, No. 32 of 1939 - Wages Boards Ordinance, No. 47 of 1941 - Shop and Office Employees (Regulation of Employment and Remuneration) Act, No. 19 of 1954 - Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act, No. 47 of 1956 - Gratuity Act, No. 12 of 1983 - National Minimum Wages of Employees Act, No. 3 of 2016 - Retirement Age of Employees (Regulation) Act, No. 28 of 2021
¶ 04 2. Industrial Relations - Industrial Disputes Act, No. 43 of 1950 - Termination of Employment of Workmen (Special Provisions) Act, No. 45 of 1971 - Industrial Disputes (Special Provisions) Act, No. 13 of 2003 (re: inquiry and adjudication)
¶ 05 3. Occupational Safety and Health - Factories Ordinance, No. 45 of 1942
¶ 06 4. Trade Unions - Trade Unions Ordinance, No. 14 of 1935
¶ 07 (iii) A committee appointed by Cabinet Decision No. AmP/25/1368/812/066-11[J] dated 04.08.2025, comprising: - Secretary, Ministry of Labour (Chair) - Secretary, Ministry of Women and Social Infrastructure (Member) - Additional Secretary (Development), Ministry of Labour (Member) - Commissioner General of Labour (Member) - Prof. A. Satcheswaran, Senior Lecturer, Department of Private and Comparative Law, Faculty of Law, University of Colombo (Member) - Dr. Ahilan Arasaratnam Kathirgamamar, Senior Lecturer, Department of Social Sciences, University of Jaffna (Member)
¶ 08 Other members: - Dr. K.B. Saman Priyalal – Attorney-at-Law - Lal Perera – Attorney-at-Law - Ruwan D.V. Dias – Attorney-at-Law - G.R. Dilip Obeyesekera – Attorney-at-Law - D.V.R. Isuru Lakpura – Attorney-at-Law - Sathya Gunawardena – Attorney-at-Law (resigned due to heavy workload) - S.R. Misra Teegal – Attorney-at-Law - Manoli Gonaduwa Jinadasa – Attorney-at-Law - A.P. Janaka Adhikari – Attorney-at-Law - K.G.J.B. Kurukohotanna – Retired Assistant Commissioner of Labour - Amaraseena Athukorala – Chartered Accountant; Financial, Tax and Investment Advisor - Hettitanthri Tushara Chaminda – Human Resources Professional
¶ 09 The Committee prepares proposals for labour law reform by obtaining views of the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) and other trade unions, employer associations and the public.
¶ 10 (iv) Expected to be completed within this year.
¶ 11 (b) Does not arise.
Provenance
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- Hansard, Thursday, 19 March 2026 ·No. 23381 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
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Cite as: The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha. 10th Parliament, Parliament of Sri Lanka. Hansard, 19 March 2026. No. 23381. Politick, https://staging.politick.io/lk/speeches/30130