A special commemorative postage stamp was issued yesterday (21) to mark the celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Labour Department.
Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment, Manusha Nanayakkara, presented the first commemorative postage stamp to the former President Mahinda Rajapakse, who served as the Minister of Labor from 1994 to 2000.
The postage stamp was unveiled at the Auditorium of the Government Information Department. During the event, the significant contributions made by the Labour Department to ensure labor rights were highlighted.
The Minister, noting that the commemorative postage stamp would symbolize all those who dedicated their lives to the betterment of the country’s labor rights, acknowledged the former President’s significant contribution to the field as the youngest Labour Minister at the time.
The Minister said that before the 101st anniversary of the Labour Department, the new Employment Bill will be brought to revolutionize the labor sector in the country, and assured that the new Bill will address all the shortcomings in the current Act.
The Minister noted that Sri Lanka is moving into an era where workers would require new skills and assured the Government will provide protection and social welfare for all workers. The Minister pointed out that the Government has formulated a mechanism to promote the “Dignity of Work” across all sectors of the economy.
Minister Nanayakkara further noted that former President Mahinda Rajapakse, who was present at the event, was a talented leader who brought significant changes to promote labour rights, resulting in his removal from the Ministerial portfolio. He also went on to say that he was able to break the record of the former President, being the youngest Labour Minister in the country’s history.
The event was attended by former Labour Ministers Gamini Lokuge, W.D.J. Seneviratne, Parliamentarian Vadivel Suresh, and former secretaries of the Ministry.
Two students of Thakshila Central College Horana who won the first and second prizes of the stamp design competition, Adeesha Swinuli and Senuli Bihanga Wijesekara, were also present at the event.