According to a circular issued by Ministry Secretary S. Aloka Bandara, this decision has been taken based on a Cabinet decision made at the Cabinet meeting held on November 24.
As per the new directive, accepting new leave applications or requests for leave extensions must be halted with immediate effect. The circular has been issued to all Ministry Secretaries, Provincial Chief Secretaries and Heads of Departments.
A circular issued on June 22, 2022 permitted public officers to obtain up to five years of local or foreign no-pay leave without affecting seniority or pension rights. However, the Ministry notes that following the recent Cabinet decision, the approval of no-pay leave under those provisions has now been suspended with immediate effect.
Public officers who are currently on approved local or foreign no-pay leave will be allowed to continue only for the already-approved duration. Similarly, officers who have already received approval and are awaiting their leave period will also be permitted to proceed according to the previously approved timelines.
The Ministry further clarifies that new or extension applications for foreign leave that have already been submitted with all required documents and have fulfilled all conditions will not be affected by the new circular. However, incomplete applications or those missing required documents will be rejected without reconsideration.
Meanwhile, the Ministry confirms that no new approvals will be granted for any local no-pay leave applications already submitted under the previous circular.
