Colombo, October 10 (Daily Mirror)-The Election Commission has announced that private sector employees will be granted special leave to cast their votes at the upcoming Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha Elections 2024, scheduled for October 26, 2024.

This decision is based on the Local Authorities Elections Ordinance, which ensures that all employees are given time to vote without losing pay or having to use their personal leave.

Public sector employees are already entitled to such leave under the Establishment Code. However, due to complaints from private sector employees during past elections, the Commission has decided to extend similar provisions to the private sector workers s well.

According to the guidelines, the duration of leave provided will depend on the distance an employee needs to travel to his or her polling station:

- Less than 40 km: half a day’s leave
- 40 - 100 km: one day leave
- 100 - 150 km: one and a half days leave
- More than 150 km: two days leave

In certain cases, where employees must travel longer distances, a three-day leave may be necessary to ensure they can reach their polling stations and return to work, the Commission added.