Cabinet Approves Permanent Appointments for 9,800 Temporary State Employees

The circular (No. 11/2026) further specifies that eligible employees must have completed 180 working days of satisfactory and continuous service by September 01, 2019, to qualify for permanent appointments. It has also been indicated that this initiative represents a definitive round of such appointments, implying that no further temporary employees will be made permanent under similar provisions in the future.

A circular (No. 11/2026) has been officially issued by the Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government, formalizing the process for granting permanent appointments to eligible state employees. This includes those recruited on a temporary, casual, substitute, contract, or relief basis, as well as individuals whose previous permanent appointments were not formalized. To qualify, employees must have met the necessary requirements by September 01, 2019. The circular has been disseminated to relevant institutional heads for implementation.

Cabinet has approved a joint proposal by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government to grant permanent appointments to 9,800 individuals. These employees were previously recruited on a temporary, casual, substitute, contract, or relief basis within the Public Service, Provincial Public Service, State Corporations, Statutory Boards, and other state institutions. The President had initially proposed this through budget recommendations. A circular outlining the provisions for these permanent appointments is expected to be issued.