The Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government has announced the immediate suspension of approving both local and foreign no-pay (unpaid) leave for all public sector officials.
According to Ministry Secretary S. Aloka Bandara, the decision is based on a Cabinet resolution adopted at the meeting held on November 24 and has been formally communicated through a newly issued circular.
The circular directs all Ministry Secretaries, Provincial Chief Secretaries, and Heads of Departments to halt the acceptance of new unpaid leave applications and requests for leave extensions with immediate effect.
A previous Public Administration Circular, effective from June 22, 2022, permitted public officers to obtain domestic or foreign no-pay leave for up to five years without affecting seniority or pension benefits.
However, following the latest Cabinet decision, the approval of unpaid leave—both domestic and foreign—under the 2022 provisions has now been suspended. Officers currently on approved no-pay leave may continue only for the already sanctioned duration.
The Ministry further clarified that officers who have received prior approval for unpaid leave but have not yet commenced it will be allowed to proceed for the period previously approved.
Regarding pending applications for foreign unpaid leave, the circular states that those which have already met all required criteria will remain valid. Applications with incomplete documentation or unmet requirements, however, will be rejected without reconsideration.
Additionally, the circular stipulates that no pending applications for domestic unpaid leave will be approved under the new directive.
