News

60% of SL’s workforce, not included in any social security scheme!

Published

1 year ago

January 4, 2024

editor

The committee appointed to prepare a comprehensive national social security system covering all workers has met under the patronage of Minister of Labor and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara.

The committee was appointed after a proposal made by Minister Nanayakkara to the Cabinet of Ministers seeking permission to prepare a comprehensive national social security system covering the entire workforce, including both formal and informal sector workers was approved.

This committee should submit the proposals regarding a comprehensive national social security system covering all workers to the Cabinet of Ministers within a period of three months.

The Minister during the meeting noted that workers in the informal sector, who represent about 60 percent of the country’s workforce, are not included in any social security scheme.

The Minister stressed that a comprehensive national social security system covering all workers including the informal sector workers, who make up about 60 percent of the country’s workforce, should be prepared and submitted to the cabinet within three months.

The Minister explained that millions of people work in the informal sector in addition to those who work in the formal sector and a special program called “Garu Saru” has been started to give dignity and respect to their labour.

The Minister also instructed the committee members to begin consultation sessions immediately regarding the preparation of a comprehensive social security system and take steps to submit the relevant report to the cabinet within three months.

This committee was appointed by the President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake based on the cabinet proposal submitted by the Minister.

During the meeting, the results of a survey conducted by Learn Asia Institute regarding social security mechanisms were also presented.

A group including Professor Rohan Samarajeeva representing the institute also participated in the meeting.

News

Several showers expected today

Published

1 hour ago

July 3, 2025

editor

Several spells of showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Nuwara-Eliya, Kandy, Galle and Matara districts today (July 03), the Department of Meteorology said.

Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts during the afternoon or night.

Meanwhile, fairly strong winds of about 30-40 kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Trincomalee and Hambantota districts.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

News

Kahawatte OIC transferred

Published

12 hours ago

July 2, 2025

editor

The Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Kahawatte Police has been transferred to the Jaffna Police Division to facilitate the investigation into the youth who was shot dead on June 30 in Kahawatte, Police said.

A 22-year-old youth died while another was critically injured in a shooting incident in the Yainna area of Kahawatte.

News

List of families eligible for ‘Aswesuma’ Phase 2, released

Published

12 hours ago

July 2, 2025

editor

The list of eligible families selected for the second phase of the ‘Aswesuma’ welfare benefit allowance has been officially released.

The list has been displayed on the notice boards of all Divisional Secretariat offices and Grama Niladhari officers as well as in the offices of the relevant field officers in charge of the subject. It has also been published on the official website of the Welfare Benefits Board, (www.wbb.gov.lk).

Furthermore, applicants who believe there is an error or any changes in the information provided during the second stage of data collection, and whose names are not included in the list of eligible candidates, have the opportunity to submit an appeal.

Additionally, individuals who submitted initial applications for ‘Aswesuma’ Phase 2 but were not visited by a government field officer for housing data collection are also eligible to appeal.

Before filing an appeal, all applicants are advised to review the information recorded about their households in the IWMS database during the housing data collection process.

Appeals and objections can be submitted through the official website by accessing the Appeals and Objections section. For further assistance, applicants are also advised to visit their nearest ‘Vidatha’ Resource Centre when submitting appeals and objections online.