The Election Commission (EC) has announced the provisions for granting leave to public and private sector employees during the upcoming Parliamentary Election, allowing them to vote without a reduction in salaries or the use of personal leave.

As outlined in paragraph 12.3 of Chapter XII of the Establishments Code under ‘Special Leave of Public Officers’, public sector employees are entitled to a minimum of four hours of leave to vote, with special leave being granted for the required time or without any salary deduction.

The EC stated that a similar system has been arranged for private sector employees in collaboration with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, ensuring the opportunity to vote without salary or leave reduction.

For private sector employees, the following leave provisions apply based on distance from the workplace to the polling station:

• 40 kilometres or less: Half a day
• 40-100 kilometres: One day
• 100-150 kilometres: One and a half days
• Over 150 kilometres: Two days  

Employees must submit a written leave request to their employers and employers are required to maintain a visible document at the workplace listing the employees who have applied for special leave and the period granted.