COLOMBO, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lankan government will introduce laws requiring people entering public-sector jobs, particularly positions involving direct contact with children, to obtain certification confirming that they have not been accused of child-related offenses, Women and Child Affairs Minister Saroja Paulraj said on Tuesday.
Paulraj said the ministry had submitted a Cabinet paper seeking approval for the measure. The certificates must be obtained from police or another authorized institution.
Existing public-sector employees would also be required to renew the certification at specified stages of their service, including when receiving salary increments or completing service milestones, she said.
Sri Lanka had about 1.16 million public and semi-government sector employees in 2024, according to the Department of Census and Statistics.
The proposed measure comes as the National People's Power government resumes public-sector recruitment after restrictions imposed in 2020. The government said in August that Cabinet had approved the recruitment of about 120,000 new public servants.
Paulraj said the new clearance requirement is intended to strengthen safeguards for children and ensure that those working in positions of trust meet appropriate standards. ■