Minister of Labor Relations and Manpower Athauda Senaviratne of Sri Lanka

Athauda Senaviratne has decided to file a defamation case against his colleague and a deputy Minister of Power and Energy Mahindananda Aluthgamage, seeking millions of Rupees in compensation.

Senaviratne was involved in insurance case in the Bureau of Foreign Employment.

Athauda Senaviratne said that the 83 year old labour laws will be amended and new laws would be introduced to streamline employee-employer related issues.

Minister Senaviratne said that the amendments would be presented to the Parliament within next year.

Replying to media quarries, Minister Athauda Senaviratne said that the Department of Labor also intends to assist entrepreneurs in solving their pecuniary problems to an extent.

Minister Senaviratne said the pay hike would come as a temporary solution for the skyrocketing cost of living that is largely due to the rising world oil prices.

However, Labour Minister Athauda Senaviratne said on Friday (27) the private sector has responded positively for a 15% to 30% pay hike for their employees.

For immediate release: June 20, 2006Sri Lankan Government Urged to Pull Wayward Garment Factory into LineLabour Minister Athauda Senaviratne was today urged to take immediate action to compel the New Design garment company to reinstate 250 illegally fired workers, in line with a ruling by the Geneva-based International Labour Organisation (ILO.

Minister Athauda Senaviratne has issued fresh orders to nab employers who had refrained from paying EPF.

Minister Senaviratne is expected to visit Libya shortly to discuss the matter further with Libyan President Muhamar Gaddafi.

At the same event, Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said the annual birth rate was only 1.