<ul><li>Dept.'s online complaint mgt. system strengthened&nbsp;</li><li>Complainants who provide contact info to be kept abreast of actions taken including formal notifications, recoveries, lawsuits, fines</li></ul> The Department of Labour has strengthened its online complaint management system as part of its efforts to act against companies that fail to properly credit Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) contributions, stated the Ministry of Labour.&nbsp;Speaking to The Daily Morning, Ministry Secretary, S.M. Piyatissa said that employees could now file complaints directly through the Labour Department’s website, adding that complainants who provide contact details would also be informed of the action taken against defaulting employers. “We are continuously taking action against such companies. If a complaint is made online, we follow it up and keep the complainant informed."He added that the first step taken against defaulting companies is formal notification, and that officials then contact company representatives and engage with them directly to recover the outstanding payments. “If companies fail to pay despite these steps, we proceed with legal action. At the end of the case, they are required to pay the due amount along with a fine." The Ministry of Finance recently informed Parliament that 22,450 companies had defaulted on EPF payments totalling Rs. 34,989,162,957.81 from 2015 to date. Deputy Minister of Labour Mahinda Jayasinghe said earlier that all identified companies would be formally notified and legal action would follow if they failed to comply.Established under the EPF Act No. 15 of 1958, the EPF is Sri Lanka’s largest social security scheme, with assets valued at Rs. 4.4 trillion as of the end of 2024. Under the law, employees contribute a minimum of 8% of their monthly earnings, while employers are required to contribute at least 12%. The fund plays a critical role in supporting private and semi-government sector workers during retirement and also provides benefits such as housing loan guarantees and partial withdrawals for medical and housing needs.&nbsp;

Labour Department to crackdown on defaulters

<ul><li>PM rejects allegations that reforms introduced hastily to meet WB conditions&nbsp;</li></ul> Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya announced that a Digital Task Force has been appointed to determine guidelines for recommending suitable online activities for students, amidst allegations the Education Ministry introduced a problematic module to the syllabus.Addressing the media at the Department of Government Information, the Prime Minister asserted that since children cannot be completely withdrawn from technology, suitable activities will be introduced. "These are planned for by the middle of the year, guidelines will be provided that navigate students only to websites and links approved by the Ministry," she said.A committee has been appointed to give recommendations, Amarasuriya detailed the structural changes that will take place in the module, stating that in the new education reforms, self-study modules will be encouraged. Continuous assessments will be carried out, rather than the existing year-end exams.Responding to concerns the country's long-standing teacher shortage would hinder education reforms, the Prime Minister said the issue is expected to be resolved by March 2026, as the Government has already taken legal action. The Ministry expects to seek suggestions from district governors on addressing teacher shortages.Amarasuriya rejected allegations the education reforms with problematic grade six modules were introduced hastily to meet a World Bank condition for a $200 million aid package, declaring that no such condition had been imposed.

Online activities: Digital Task Force to guide students

<ul><li>Union says flaws in new textbooks and policy reversals show reforms are not ready</li><li>Grade Six English module issue part of wider problems, teachers warn</li></ul> The Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) has called on the Government to implement a one-year pilot project before fully rolling out the proposed education reforms, stating that multiple flaws have already surfaced and that rushed implementation could cause further disruption in schools.Speaking to The Daily Morning, CTU President Priyantha Fernando said the controversy surrounding the newly printed Grade Six English language module was only one example of problems within the reform process. He said that major education reforms introduced in the past had always been tested through pilot projects, including plans by the former Government to pilot reforms in the Kalutara District.&nbsp;"The recent reversal on extending school hours by half an hour is evidence that the reforms are not ready. The Ministry of Education has issued five circulars on the matter before the decision was eventually withdrawn. This reversal shows that even the Ministry recognises weaknesses in the current reform process. If these reforms are implemented, it will lead to more issues in the education sector," he added.Attempts to contact the Secretary to the Education Ministry, Nalaka Kaluwewa proved futile.&nbsp;The Education Ministry earlier suspended the distribution of the Grade Six English language module after it was found to contain a reference to an inappropriate website.&nbsp; An investigation was launched following a complaint, and the Education Ministry Secretary also lodged a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) regarding the matter.Several teachers’ and principals’ trade unions, including the CTU, had consistently opposed the proposed extension of school hours and warned of trade union action after 5 January, when schools are scheduled to reopen after the holidays. The Ministry of Education had maintained that there would be no change to its decision, but announced last week that the move would be halted, citing disruptions caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

Education Reforms: CTU calls for pilot year before rolling out education reforms

<ul><li>Regulator says CEB’s late submission makes a 1 January increase unrealistic</li></ul> The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has stated that even though the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has requested a revision of electricity tariffs to be implemented from 1 January, the process could not be rushed and would take at least several weeks, even if carried out at maximum efficiency.Speaking to The Daily Morning, PUCSL Director-Communication, Jayanat Herat said that the CEB had submitted its tariff revision proposal on 24 December, 2025, despite earlier instructions to do so much earlier if the changes were to take effect from the beginning of the year. He noted that it had informed the CEB on 22 October, 2025 to submit any proposal for a 1 January implementation on or before 14 November, 2025, giving regulators sufficient time to study the data and complete the required procedures.“The CEB has requested this revision be implemented from 1 January, but the proposal was only sent to us on 24 December. If it is to be implemented from 1 January, there is not even enough time to properly study it,” he said, adding that tariff revisions usually take between six and eight weeks to be finalised.Herat stressed the PUCSL could not approve a tariff revision in a rush, as the proposal needs to be carefully examined. "Under the law, the PUCSL is required to allow at least 21 days for written submissions from relevant stakeholders. This period alone takes about three weeks, and even if all processes are handled at the highest level of efficiency, a minimum of four weeks would still be required to complete the review."The comments come after the CEB submitted a proposal to the PUCSL seeking a revision of electricity tariffs for 2026, indicating that an 11.57% increase would be required in the first quarter of the year. According to the submission, a deficit of Rs. 13,094 million has been estimated for the period from January to March 2026, which the CEB states necessitates the proposed increase.The CEB has also stated that any deviations from these estimates, whether an excess or a shortfall, would be addressed through the Bulk Supply Tariff Adjustment mechanism and taken into account at the next tariff revision. The Board has stated that the proposed changes are aimed at maintaining financial and operational stability and reducing risks to the reliability of the electricity supply, subject to the PUCSL’s approval and due process.

Electricity Tariffs: Tariff revision cannot be rushed: PUCSL

<ul><li>Revision during economic crisis led to confusion over availability&nbsp;</li></ul> A decision taken by specialist medical colleges over two years ago to revise the national drug formulary, following Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, had led to the impression that the country is facing shortages of certain cancer medicines, President of the All Ceylon Government Pharmacists Association (ACGPA) Chalith Amaradivakara said.Responding to queries from The Daily Morning when contacted yesterday (04) over complaints raised by patients and some medical professionals, Amaradivakara said Sri Lanka had more than 800 medicines on its priority list, which was significantly higher than in developed countries. When the Government at the time called for a reduction in pharmaceutical imports, several specialist colleges, including the College of Oncologists, carried out a formulary revision and decided to remove some generic medicines from the list, he said.&nbsp;As a result, some drugs that were previously available to patients may have been removed from the priority list. However, Amaradivakara stressed this did not mean that essential cancer medicines were unavailable. In many cases, it was a particular brand that was no longer available, while alternative options remained.He said the decision had been a clinical one and would benefit the country in the long term. “Developed countries do not maintain such extensive priority medicinal drug lists, and Sri Lanka too must move towards a more streamlined arrangement, " he added.However, since the revision, there have been complaints and concerns from patients and certain medical professionals about shortages of cancer medicines in particular. Amaradivakara said that although Sri Lanka appeared more stable following the pandemic, if another formulary revision should be considered it should be in consultation with the specialist colleges. He stressed that such a decision could not be taken politically.&nbsp;He also noted the Medical Supplies Division (MSD) was unable to grant permission to hospitals to locally purchase medicines that had been removed from the priority list.Amaradivakara further said state hospitals should update the ‘Swastha’ system regularly to reflect the availability of medicines. The MSD distributes donated medicines only after updating the system, and this practice should be followed by all state hospitals as well.&nbsp;Attempts to contact the Deputy Minister of Health, the Deputy Director General, and the Director of the MSD were unsuccessful at the time.

Cancer drug shortages linked to formulary revision - ACGPA  

<ul><li>Prioritise reforms that cater to future or risk being overtaken by private or foreign institutions&nbsp;</li></ul> The SJB urged the Government to prioritise education reforms that catered to the needs of the future, warning the country's free education system was at risk of being overtaken by private and foreign institutions.Speaking to The Daily Morning, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday (04) emphasised the need to adopt global best practices in education whilst citing the importance of Artificial Intelligence and technological advancements. "We should be updating our education system to match global standards, otherwise our free education system will be challenged by private and foreign education systems," he lamented.Further, he credited C.W.W. Kannangara for introducing free education in the country, but stressed that it needed to be modernised to prioritise innovation. "If we don't take the correct steps now to establish an updated education curriculum and reforms, the development of the country will be hindered by decades," he warned.Addressing a religious ceremony at Kampethara Abhayarajarama Vihararaya on Saturday (3), Premadasa highlighted the importance of preserving culture while embracing modernity. "As we adopt robot technology in our education reforms, we should not forget civility and propriety," he noted.&nbsp;

Education reforms should be futuristic: SJB sounds alarm on education reforms

“The US will run Venezuela until a safe, proper and judicious transition is secured," President Donald Trump said following US military strikes that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.Trump said US oil companies would also help repair Venezuela’s “broken infrastructure” and begin generating revenue for the country.US forces launched strikes on Venezuela early on Saturday (03 January), during which Maduro and his wife, First Lady Cilia Flores, were taken into custody and removed from the country. In response, Venezuela declared a state of national emergency and condemned what it described as military aggression. The country’s vice-president said Maduro remains Venezuela’s only legitimate leader.Maduro and Flores were flown out of the capital, Caracas, by US helicopter in the early hours of Saturday and taken to the USS Iwo Jima at an undisclosed location in the Caribbean Sea. They were later transported to the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, before being transferred to another aircraft bound for New York State. From there, they were flown by helicopter to the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn, New York City.US Attorney General Pam Bondi said both Maduro and Flores had been indicted in the Southern District of New York. The charges include conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism and import cocaine, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess such weapons against the United States.“They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts,” Bondi said in a post on X.Maduro has repeatedly denied allegations that he is linked to drug cartels. He has previously accused the US of using its so-called war on drugs as a pretext to remove him from power and gain access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.Speaking at a news conference ahead of Maduro’s arrival in New York, Trump said Venezuela’s oil sector had collapsed after years of mismanagement.“The oil business in Venezuela has been a bust for a long period of time,” he said. “We’re going to have our very large US oil companies, the biggest anywhere in the world, go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken oil infrastructure and start making money for the country.”According to the US Energy Information Administration, Venezuela holds approximately 303 billion barrels of crude oil, accounting for nearly 20 per cent of global reserves.Trump did not provide details on how the US would administer Venezuela, but said a group would be responsible for overseeing the process.“We’re going to be running it with a group, and we’re going to make sure it’s run properly,” he said.When asked who within Venezuela would be involved, Trump said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been in discussions with the country’s vice-president, Delcy Rodríguez.Agencies

Trump says US will run Venezuela and fix oil infrastructure

The Ministry of Health has postponed the implementation of several regulations under the Food Act, initially set to take effect from January 1, 2026. The decision was made by Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, following consultations with the Food Advisory Committee.The regulations, published in an Extraordinary Gazette on February 14, 2023, will now come into effect on July 1, 2026. These include regulations on food labelling and advertising, regulations on colour-coded labelling for sugar levels in liquid foods, regulations on iodization of salt for food, and regulations related to trans fats.The postponement affects regulations aimed at promoting healthier food choices and reducing the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Health Ministry Postpones Food Regulations Implementation

The Politburo of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) strongly condemned the military intervention carried out by the US against Venezuela, in which it forcibly entered the independent and sovereign country and abducted its democratically elected President, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife.The Bureau said that, as with any free and sovereign Nation, the authority to decide Venezuela’s future and to determine who governs the country rested solely with its people. “No external power has the right to violate that authority,” it stressed.The Bureau noted that it is a widely accepted principle that modern society and systems of governance must be more civilised. Democracy, human rights, and the freedom and sovereignty of states are universally recognised values. “Regardless of the justification given, military interventions or acts of aggression that violate these principles cannot be justified in the modern civilised world,” it observed.The JVP Politburo further said it firmly believed that the use of force and military intervention by the US against Venezuela would not be accepted or approved by the international community.“Therefore, we unequivocally condemn this military aggression by the US against Venezuela and declare our solidarity with its people in defence of their sovereignty and independence,” it added.

Labour Department to crackdown on defaulters

Online activities: Digital Task Force to guide students

Online activities: Digital Tas ...

Education Reforms: CTU calls for pilot year before rolling out educati ...

Education Reforms: CTU calls f ...

Electricity Tariffs: Tariff revision cannot be rushed: PUCSL

Electricity Tariffs: Tariff re ...

Cancer drug shortages linked to formulary revision - ACGPA

Cancer drug shortages linked t ...

Education reforms should be futuristic: SJB sounds alarm on education ...

Education reforms should be fu ...

Trump says US will run Venezuela and fix oil infrastructure

Trump says US will run Venezue ...

Health Ministry Postpones Food Regulations Implementation

Health Ministry Postpones Food ...

JVP Politburo slams US for its military intervention against Venezuela ...

JVP Politburo slams US for its ...

Online activities: Digital Task Force to guide students

Online activities: Digital Tas ...

Education Reforms: CTU calls for pilot year before rolling out educati ...

Education Reforms: CTU calls f ...

Electricity Tariffs: Tariff revision cannot be rushed: PUCSL

Electricity Tariffs: Tariff re ...

Cancer drug shortages linked to formulary revision - ACGPA

Cancer drug shortages linked t ...

Education reforms should be futuristic: SJB sounds alarm on education ...

Education reforms should be fu ...

Trump says US will run Venezuela and fix oil infrastructure

Trump says US will run Venezue ...

Health Ministry Postpones Food Regulations Implementation

Health Ministry Postpones Food ...

JVP Politburo slams US for its military intervention against Venezuela ...

JVP Politburo slams US for its ...

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