Sri Lanka’s efforts to completely eliminate child labour came under review today as the National Steering Committee for the Elimination of Child Labour (NSCECL) convened its first meeting of the year in Colombo.
The meeting, held at the General Secretariat of Labour in Narahenpita, brought together senior government officials, representatives of the International Labour Organization (ILO), and key stakeholders to assess progress and identify priority actions. Secretary to the Ministry of Labour S.M. Piyatissa presided over the session, alongside ILO Country Representative Joni Simpson and Commissioner General of Labour Nadeeka Wataliyadda.
Officials from the Department of Labour presented updates on enforcement, prevention, and awareness measures implemented over the past year. Commissioner of Labour N.M.Y. Thushari outlined initiatives led by the Women and Children’s Affairs Division, while Deputy Director of Statistics N.M.K. Navaratne provided an overview of current child labour trends in Sri Lanka.
Participants noted that Sri Lanka continues to record one of the lowest child labour rates in the region, while emphasising the need for sustained vigilance to fully eradicate the practice. Committee members proposed policy, monitoring, and community-level interventions to strengthen ongoing efforts.
Representatives from relevant ministries, government institutions, employer organisations, and trade unions also took part in the discussions, reaffirming a multi-stakeholder approach to achieving a child labour–free Sri Lanka.
