The Geological Survey and Mines Bureau has banned sand mining in a 14 km stretch from the estuary to Nartupana due to sand mining. Accordingly, the extension of 246 mining permits issued for sand mining in the area after December 31 last year has been suspended.

Total of Covid-19 deaths reported 339

The regulation pertaining to increase the minimum age for contribution to the Employees
Provident Fund ( EPF ) from 14 to 16 years was considered in the Ministerial Consultative
Committee on Labor held in Parliament Feb: ( 03) .
An Extraordinary Gazette Notification has been issued in this regard and it was agreed to
submit the regulation regarding the amendment to Parliament for approval in the coming
days.
The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Labour met last day (03) under the
chairmanship of the Minister of Labor Nimal Siripala de Silva. This regulation has been

issued in line with the amendment which was passed in Parliament recently in order to
increase the minimum working age from 14 to 16 years.
In addition, the annual report of the National Institute of Labor Studies ( NILS ) for the year
2018 was considered at the meeting. The Committee drew attention on the Progress of the
NILS in past years, which conducts training and awareness programs on labor law. The
Minister instructed the relevant officials to obtain NVQ qualification for the courses of this
institute and to develop all the courses in a more systematic manner.
He also directed the Secretary to the Ministry and the officials of the National Institute of
Labor Studies ( NILS) to make the lawyers, officials of the Department of Labor and the
trade unions aware of the legal provisions related to the new labor law ,introduced by the
Parliament through awareness programmes and seminars. The current financial status of
the institution was also discussed at the committee.
State Minister Piyankara Jayaratne, Member of Parliament Jagath Pushpakumara, Secretary
to the Ministry Mapa Pathirana and officials were present at the meeting.