The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon

385 J 3, Old Kotte Road, Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka

Telephone: 94-11-2867966-8, 94-11-2867941, Fax: 94-11-2867942, 94-11-2867946
E-mail: EFC@empfed.lk
Website: http://www.employers.lk

18th August 2020

CIRCULAR NO: 58/2020

HOLIDAYS 2021

Members are advised that holidays for 2021 are as follows:

A. Shop & Office Employees

I. For employees governed by the Shop & Office Employees’ Act the statutory holidays in respect of 2021 are:
1. Tamil Thai Pongal Day Thursday, 14th January
2. Independence Day Thursday, 04th February
3. Day prior to Sinhala & Tamil New Year Day Tuesday,13th April
4. Sinhala & Tamil New Year Day Wednesday, 14th April
5. May Day Saturday, 01st May
6. Day following Vesak Full Moon Poya Day Thursday 27th May
7. Holy Prophet’s Birthday (Milad-Un-Nabi) Tuesday 19th October
8. Christmas Day Saturday, 25th December

II. Statutory Holidays Falling on Weekly Holidays/ Half - Holidays:

a. May Day Saturday, 01st May

As the May Day falls on what is normally considered as a weekly half holiday, an additional half-holiday will
have to be given. It is recommended that it be given on Friday, 30th April 2021.

b. Christmas Day Saturday, 25th December

As the Christmas day falls on what is normally considered as a weekly half holiday, an additional half
holiday will have to be given. It is recommended that it be given on Friday, 24th December 2021.

III. Summary of holiday pattern (including poya days) for employees governed by the Shop & Office Employees’
Act:

January - 14th Thursday - Tamil Thai Pongal Day

- 28th Thursday - Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day

February - 04th Thursday - Independence Day

- 26th Friday - Navam Full Moon Poya Day

March - 28th Sunday - Medin Full Moon Poya Day

April - 13th Tuesday - Day prior to Sinhala & Tamil New Year Day
- 14th Wednesday - Sinhala & Tamil New Year Day
- 26th Monday - Bak Full Moon Poya Day
- 30th Friday - Additional half-holiday on account of the May Day falling
on a Saturday
 May - 01st Saturday - May Day
- 26th Wednesday - Vesak Full Moon Poya Day
- 27th Thursday - Day following Vesak Full Moon Poya Day

June - 24th Thusday - Poson Full Moon Poya Day

July - 23rd Friday - Esala Full Moon Poya Day

August - 22nd Sunday - Nikini Full Moon Poya Day

September - 20th Monday - Binara Full Moon Poya Day

October - 19th Tuesday - Holy Prophet’s Birthday (Milad-Un-Nabi)

- 20th Wednesday - Vap Full Moon Poya Day
November - 18th Thursday -II Full Moon Poya Day

December - 18th Saturday - Unduwap Full Moon Poya Day

- 24th Friday - Additional half-holiday on account of the Christmas day
falling on a Saturday
- 25th Saturday - Christmas Day

B. EFC / CMU Collective Agreement

I. Employees covered by the EFC / CMU Collective Agreement are entitled to the following holidays as
customary holidays.

1. 01st January - Friday - New Year Day

2. 02nd April - Friday - Good Friday
3. 03rd April - Saturday - Holy Saturday (Half Day)
4. 24th December - Friday - Christmas Eve (Half Day)
5. 26th December - Sunday - Boxing Day

No additional holiday need be granted when a customary holiday coincides with any other holiday.

(Please note that each Company may discuss with the Union, the possibility of removing one or more of the
customary holidays – Vide Clause 9(v) of the EFC/ CMU Collective Agreement of 2017)

II. The Summary of the holiday pattern for employees covered by the EFC/CMU Collective Agreement will be
as follows:

January - 01st Friday - New Year Day

- 14th Thursday - Tamil Thai Pongal Day
- 28th Thursday - Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day

February - 04th Thursday - Independence Day

- 26th Friday - Navam Full Moon Poya Day

March - 28th Sunday - Medin Full Moon Poya Day

April - 02nd Friday - Good Friday

- 03rd Saturday - Holy Saturday (Half Day)
- 13th Tuesday - Day prior to Sinhala & Tamil New Year Day
- 14th Wednesday - Sinhala & Tamil New Year Day
- 26th Monday - Bak Full Moon Poya Day
- 30th Friday - Additional half-holiday on account of the May Day falling
on a Saturday
 May - 01st Saturday - May Day
- 26th Wednesday - Vesak Full Moon Poya Day
- 27th Thursday - Day following Vesak Full Moon Poya Day

June - 24th Thursday - Poson Full Moon Poya Day

July - 23rd Friday - Esala Full Moon Poya Day

August - 22nd Sunday - Nikini Full Moon Poya Day

September - 20th Monday - Binara Full Moon Poya Day

October - 19th Tuesday - Holy Prophet’s Birthday (Milad-Un-Nabi)

- 20th Wednesday - Vap Full Moon Poya Day

November - 18th Thursday - II Full Moon Poya Day

December - 18th Saturday - Unduwap Full Moon Poya Day

- 24th Friday - Christmas Eve (Half day)
- 24th Friday - Additional half-holiday on account of the Christmas Day
falling on a Saturday
- 25th Saturday - Christmas Day
- 26th Sunday - Boxing Day

C. EFC Manual Workers’ Collective Agreements – (1988)

Holidays (including Poya Days) for employees covered under these Collective Agreements will be the same
as under the Shop & Office Employees’ Act as given at A (III) above.

D. Wages Boards

I. Holidays (including Poya Days) for employees covered by the Wages Board Decisions. Read with
exceptions given at (II), (III) & (IV) below:

January -14th Thursday -Tamil Thai Pongal Day

-28th Thursday - Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day

February - 04th Thursday - Independence Day

- 26th Friday - Navam Full Moon Poya Day

March - 28th Sunday - Medin Full Moon Poya Day

April - 13th Tuesday - Day prior to Sinhala & Tamil New Year Day
- 14 Wednesday
th
- Sinhala & Tamil New Year Day
- 26th Monday - Bak Full Moon Poya Day

May - 01st Saturday - May Day

- 26th Wednesday - Vesak Full Moon Poya Day
- 27th Thursday - Day following Vesak Full Moon Poya Day
June - 24th Thursday - Poson Full Moon Poya Day
July - 23rd Friday - Esala Full Moon Poya Day

August - 22nd Sunday - Nikini Full Moon Poya Day

September - 20th Monday - Binara Full Moon Poya Day
 October - 19th Tuesday - Holy Prophet’s Birthday (Milad-Un-Nabi)
- 20th Wednesday - Vap Full Moon Poya Day
November - 18th Thursday - II Full Moon Poya Day

December - 18th Saturday - Unduwap Full Moon Poya Day

- 25th Saturday - Christmas Day

II. Please note that in terms of the decisions of the following Wages Boards an additional holiday has to be
given when a statutory holiday falls on a weekly holiday. For exceptions please read with (III) & (IV)
below:

1.Biscuit & Confectionary Manufacturing (including Chocolate Manufacturing) Trade

2.Coconut Growing Trade
3.Paddy Hulling Trade
4.Rubber Cultivation & Raw Rubber Processing Trade
5.Tea Growing & Manufacturing Trade
6.Textile Manufacturing Trade
7.Engineering Trade
8.Hotel & Catering Trade (since the Terms and Conditions of employment are as per the Shop & Office
Employees’ Act)

III. Exceptions

Please also note the following exceptions in respect of Public holidays, i.e. holidays other than Poya
Days.

1. Batik Trade, Cinnamon Trade, Cocoa, Cardamom - No public holiday will

and Pepper Growing & Manufacturing Trade, be applicable
Glassware Manufacturing Trade, Janitorial Trade,
Journalist Trade, Pre- School Trade, Dock Harbour
& Port Transport Trade, Metal Quarry & Metal
Crushers Trade
2. Cigar Manufacturing Trade - Sinhala & Tamil New Year Day & May
Day
3. Liquor & Vinegar Trade - The day prior to Sinhala & Tamil New
Year Day is not a holiday
4. Security Services Trade - Six holidays have to be granted either
on the following days or in lieu of such
days on days to be mutually agreed
between the employer / employee
i. Thai Pongal Day
ii. Independence Day
iii.Sinhala & Tamil New Year Day
iv.May Day
v. Holy Prophet’s Birthday (Milad-Un-
Nabi)
vi.Christmas Day

5. Match Manufacturing Trade - Good Friday is a holiday instead of

Holy Prophet’s Birthday (Milad- Un-
Nabi).

6. Paddy Hulling Trade - Ramazan is a holiday instead of Holy

Prophet’s Birthday (Milad- Un-Nabi).
7. Plumbago Trade - The day prior to Sinhala & Tamil New
Year Day is not a holiday.
IV. In the case of the Trades given below the only public holidays applicable will be those mentioned
hereunder:

i.Coconut Growing Trade

(a) Independence Day
(b) Sinhala & Tamil New Year Day
(c) May Day
(d) The Day following Vesak Full Moon Poya Day
ii.Tea Growing & Manufacturing Trade
(a) Independence Day
(b) Sinhala & Tamil New Year Day
(c) May Day
iii.Rubber Cultivation & Raw Rubber Processing Trade
(a) Independence Day
(b) Sinhala & Tamil New Year Day
(c) May Day

FULL MOON POYA DAYS – 2021

January - 28th Thursday - Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day

February - 26th Friday - Navam Full Moon Poya Day
March - 28th Sunday - Medin Full Moon Poya Day
April - 26th Monday - Bak Full Moon Poya Day
May - 26th Wednesday - Vesak Full Moon Poya Day
June - 24th Thursday - Poson Full Moon Poya Day
July - 23rd Friday - Esala Full Moon Poya Day
August - 22nd Sunday - Nikini Full Moon Poya Day
September - 20th Monday - Binara Full Moon Poya Day
October - 20th Wednesday - Vap Full Moon Poya Day
November - 18th Thursday - II Full Moon Poya Day
December - 18th Saturday - Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day

No additional holiday need be granted where a Poya Day coincides with any other holiday.

Vajira Ellepola
Deputy Director General