Sri Lanka, India strengthen cooperation on labour law reforms at ILC meeting

Saturday, 13 June 2026 06:34 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka and India have reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation in the field of labour governance, with a particular focus on labour law reform and institutional knowledge sharing, during a high-level meeting held on the sidelines of the International Labour Conference (ILC).

Labour Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando met with India’s Labour and Employment State Minister Shobha Karandlaje on Wednesday (10) to discuss avenues for collaboration aimed at modernising labour legislation and strengthening labour administration in both countries.

During the discussions, Dr. Fernando provided an update on Sri Lanka’s ongoing labour law review process, which seeks to streamline and modernise the country’s labour regulatory framework to meet contemporary economic and workforce needs.

The Indian delegation shared insights from their own labour law reform experience, including the consolidation of multiple labour statutes into a more integrated legislative structure.

Indian officials highlighted the challenges and successes encountered during the reform process and emphasised the importance of balancing worker protections with economic competitiveness.

India also expressed its readiness to support Sri Lanka’s reform efforts through technical assistance, capacity building, and the sharing of best practices.