The Election Commission has received several complaints about employers not providing adequate leave for public and private sector employees to cast their votes in the upcoming General Election.

Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake emphasizes that employers are legally required to grant leave to employees for voting under Article 122 of the Parliamentary Elections Act No. 1 of 1981.

In an announcement on November 2nd, the Commission reminded employers that they must grant leave in a manner that allows employees to vote without any salary deductions or reductions to their personal leave.

The guidelines specify that any employee who requests leave to vote in writing must be granted time off. 

This leave should be considered a special holiday with pay and is not deducted from the employee’s regular leaves. 

State sector employees are entitled to special leave for the General Election, with a minimum duration of 4 hours without any salary deduction. 

The exact duration of leave should be determined based on the distance from the employee’s workplace to the polling station.

The Election Commission further highlights that employers should display a notice at the workplace, detailing the leave period granted and other relevant information to ensure transparency.