Sri Lanka, Dec. 6 -- The Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government has announced the immediate suspension of approving local and foreign no-pay leave (unpaid leave) for all public sector officials.

According to Ministry Secretary S. Aloka Bandara, the decision was made based on a Cabinet resolution adopted at the meeting held on November 24, and has been formally communicated through a new circular.

The circular instructs all Ministry Secretaries, Provincial Chief Secretaries, and Heads of Departments to halt the acceptance of new leave applications and requests for leave extensions with immediate effect.

A previous Public Administration Circular, effective from June 22, 2022, had allowed public offic...