Public employees going abroad must settle all debts

All public sector employees seeking to obtain leave to go abroad for employment will be required to pay all debts before the leave is approved, a circular issued by the Ministry of Public Administration said.

As decided on June 13, the government allows public employees to obtain 5 years of no-pay leave at maximum to be spent in and out of Sri Lanka.

However, those against whom disciplinary action has been taken will be entitled to benefit from the scheme.

 The no-pay leave will not affect the seniority and years of service required for calculating the pension or in the granting of promotions, the circular said.

However, public officers below 35 are granted only a leave of a maximum of one year, within which duration they can engage in educational and training activities within or outside the island.

All officers working abroad are required to make a respective monthly deposit to a Non-Resident Foreign Currency Account, through the Sri Lankan banking system, opened in his or her own name or remit 25% of their salary.

If this or the agreement pertaining to the provisions the employee is applying for leave is violated, their leave will not be calculated for seniority and pension.

Public employees abroad are also expected to remit the necessary contribution to the Widows’ /Widowers’ and Orphans’ Pension fund to the Director-General of Pensions in foreign currency, while public employees spend their leave in Sri Lanka is to pay it in Sri Lankan currency.

Officers taking leave to be spent in Sri Lanka should make suitable arrangements for the monthly settlement of the instalments, while an officer going abroad is required to pay all debts. The Government has also considered discussing this issue with the Treasury to provide an alternative method for this.

If a public employee is already abroad, on an approved leave, he or she can be provided with the opportunity to obtain the 5-year leave by submitting a written request to the Secretary of the respective ministry.   (BY Senuka Jayakody)