A discussion was held on Tuesday (17) at the Parliament complex between Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Professor Chandana Abayaratne and International Labour Organisation (ILO) Country Director for Sri Lanka Joni Simpson, focusing on the role of social dialogue in Sri Lanka’s economic recovery.
During the meeting, Simpson briefed the Minister on ongoing initiatives aimed at strengthening workplace dialogue mechanisms within the public sector. She noted that 63 Workplace Forums have been established across public institutions, with the objective of improving employee-management relations, promoting industrial harmony, supporting gender inclusivity, and enhancing public service delivery.
The discussion also addressed the development of a data-driven, cloud-based platform titled the “National Database on Industrial Disputes,” a joint initiative between the Ministry and the Department of Census and Statistics. The database currently covers 84 percent of public sector trade unions and is intended to improve monitoring and resolution of labour disputes.
Simpson further outlined programs being implemented in the Gampaha and Badulla districts to increase the participation of women, youth, and individuals in the informal economy in policy formulation processes. She expressed appreciation for the Ministry’s cooperation and requested the establishment of a formal legal framework to ensure the sustainability of these mechanisms.
She also emphasised the importance of legally anchoring alternative dispute prevention and resolution systems to maintain continuity and institutional stability. In addition, she sought the Ministry’s leadership in establishing sectoral and national-level social dialogue forums within the public sector.
The initiatives form part of the joint Government of Sri Lanka and United Nations project titled ‘Social Dialogue for Peace and Resilience’. The project aims to promote inclusive and peaceful dispute resolution mechanisms at national and regional levels. It is implemented through the ILO, UNESCO, and UNFPA, and funded by the UN Sri Lanka SDG Fund with support from Canada, the European Union, the United Kingdom, the UN Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund, and the Joint SDG Fund.
Minister Abayaratne commended the programme and agreed to provide government intervention and strategic guidance. It was decided that a meeting would be convened in the near future with relevant ministers and officials to determine the implementation process for the upcoming work plan.
The meeting was attended by Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government S. Alokabandara, ILO Project Manager Pramodini Weerasekera, and other officials.