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At present we have holidays for government, mercantile and banking
sector.
1. Weekly holidays
(Government, bank and mercantile)
2. Statutory holidays
(Government, bank and mercantile)
3. Poya days
(Government, bank and mercantile)
4. Non-statutory holidays
(Government and bank)
5. Additional holidays
(Bank and mercantile)
Additional holidays are granted when statutory holiday fall on weekly
holiday unless it is Poya holiday in which case no additional holiday is
to be granted.
a) Statutory holidays
Tamil Thai-pongal Day*
National Day
Milad-Un-Nabi
(Holy Prophet's Birthday)*
Day prior to Sinhala and Tamil New Year Day*
Sinhala and Tamil New Year Day
May Day
Day following Vesak Full Moon Poya Day*
Christmas Day
b) Non-statutory holidays
Maha Siva Rathree Day
Good Friday
Hajji
Ramazan
Deepavali
Banks are closed on all holidays mentioned in the above. It should be
appreciated that banks play a major role in the development of economy
and therefore some arrangements have to be made to open them for the
economic development.
Several mercantile establishments nowadays do not close on additional
holidays but permit the employees to take leave on the dates they
prefer. Banks also should consider this practice. I suggest banks could
operate on the following by permitting the employees to take leave of
their preference without closing.
1. Non-statutory holidays
2. Additional holidays
3. Statutory holiday (four duly marked in the above)
By this method adequate bank services could be available without
infringement to their employments rights. Similarly government and
mercantile sector also permit their employees to enjoy their leave
without closing on selected days. I am of the opinion this method will
help government, mercantile and banking sector to contribute more
towards the development of the economy.
- S. R. Balachandran
Tax Adviser
The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka
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