Saturday Jan 10, 2026
Saturday Jan 10, 2026
Friday, 9 January 2026 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Deputy Labour Minister
Mahinda Jayasinghe
The Ministry of Labour yesterday issued a clarification following media reports that misrepresented comments made by Deputy Labour Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe regarding the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF).
The clarification follows a question raised in Parliament on Tuesday (6) by MP Oshani Umanga Hapuarachchi on the respective roles of the EPF and the Employees’ Trust Fund (ETF). Responding to the query, Jayasinghe explained that the two funds serve different purposes, with the EPF functioning primarily as a long-term social security mechanism for employees.
He noted that the social security objective of the EPF is not always fully achieved, as some members opt to withdraw their savings at different stages. In that context, he said the Government has been examining the possibility of introducing a retirement mechanism similar to a state pension scheme for employees.
However, the Deputy Minister stressed that media reports claiming that a pension scheme linked to the EPF has already been approved are incorrect. He said no final decision has been taken and that any such proposal would be considered only after consultations at the National Labour Advisory Council, which comprises representatives of the Government, trade unions and the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon.
The Ministry also assured EPF members that there will be no changes to existing arrangements and that members will continue to receive their EPF benefits upon retirement under the current payment framework.
