Monday Oct 26, 2026
Monday Oct 26, 2026
Monday, 26 October 2026 05:47 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Ministry Secretary S. Alokabandara (left) hands over the Declaration on Social Dialogue in the Public Service to Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake at the launch of the National Public Service Forum
The Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Ministry in partnership with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), last week launched the National Public Service Dialogue Forum.
The Forum provides a formal and structured space for government administrators and public service employees across the country to discuss workplace issues and concerns. It allows workplace challenges and grievances to be addressed through dialogue and joint problem-solving. By improving workplace relations and strengthening accountability, the Forum aims to contribute to a public service that is more responsive and resilient.
The framework operates at three levels—workplace, sectoral and national—so that issues can be addressed at the appropriate level. Workplace forums deal with issues within individual institutions. Issues that cannot be resolved there can be taken to sectoral forums. The National forum addresses issues that affect more than one sector or require action by central government authorities.
Public Service handed over by Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Ministry Secretary S. Alokabandara said: “The National Public Service Dialogue Forum gives administrators and employees a permanent space to raise concerns early and resolve them together, so that services to citizens continue without interruption. It can also help ensure that reforms, including digitalization and training, take account of the experience of the people responsible for delivering public services.”
Established workplace forums have already demonstrated how dialogue was used to address challenges ranging from promotion processes to workplace safety, while identifying ways to strengthen organizational performance and improve service delivery. Building on this experience, the national forum aims to contribute to peacebuilding, strengthen institutional resilience and social cohesion, and improve overall public service delivery.
United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka Marc-André Franche said: “Public services are where people experience government in their everyday lives. Strengthening those services also means strengthening trust between people and institutions. This Forum is a recognition that lasting peace must be built through dialogue, inclusion and social justice, not enforcement alone.”
ILO Country Office for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Director Joni Simpson said: “Social dialogue helps build trust between public institutions and workers by providing a structured way to raise concerns, discuss solutions and manage change. This is essential to preventing disputes and supporting a public service that responds effectively to people’s needs.”
The establishment of the National Forum is supported by the “Social Dialogue for Peace and Crisis Prevention in Sri Lanka” project, which promotes inclusive approaches to dispute resolution and strengthens cooperation across public institutions. This project is implemented by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
The launch of the National Forum reflects a shift towards more proactive, collaborative governance, recognising that meaningful worker participation, responsive institutions and constructive engagement between government and employees can contribute to lasting peace and economic stability.
