Hire and pay employees in
Sri Lanka, hassle-free

The individual income tax ranges from 6% to 36%. Income tax is calculated according to progressive rates. Multiple additional factors may impact overall rates, such as household status and the number of children.

The employer cost is generally estimated at 15% of the employee salary.

• EPF Employer contribution - 12%
• Employees Trust Fund contribution - 3%

These costs are provided as estimates and are intended solely for general informational purposes. To fully comprehend all associated costs and fees related to the terms of any employment agreement for this country, please contact our Sales team for a quote.

Standard working hours are 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week. The standard workweek is from Monday to Friday. However, extending the workweek to 45 hours working for 4 hours on Saturdays is possible.

Overtime payment is mandatory and is not included in the salary. Hours outside of standard work hours are considered overtime and before working them, the employee needs to get approval from the employer. Employees can work a maximum of 12 hours of overtime per week and get paid 150% of the hourly rate.

Pregnant employees who have worked for 150 consecutive days for the actual employer are entitled to 84 days, excluding holidays, of paid leave. 14 days must be taken before the child's birth and the following days after the birth. The employee will receive 100% of the salary during this period, and the employer will be responsible for this pay.

There are no regulations to extend maternity leave, the length and payment conditions should be arranged with the employer.

There is no paternity leave currently required by law.

However, it is best practice to grant 7 business days paid by the employer.

Terminations must respect complex rules and the rules of an employee’s employment country. The off-boarding is always handled by the Employer with the primary stakeholders. It may include ad-hoc fees as well as required or recommended steps on specific termination cases.

Terminations in Sri Lanka can happen under four scenarios:

• The employee decides to resign.
• By mutual agreement: both parties agree on the conditions and the employee will provide a resignation letter.
• Termination by the employer without cause: the employer will need approval from the Commissioner of Labour (“COL”) and severance should be paid.
• Termination with a cause: the employer will have to justify in writing the reason.

In Sri Lanka, all employees terminated without cause or who have been working for more than five years are entitled to severance pay. Terminations without cause must be approved by the Commissioner of Labour (COL) and can request higher payments based on each case.

• Employees who worked for between 1 to 5 years served - 2,5 months per year.
• Employees who worked between 6 to 14 years served - 2 months per year.
• Employees who worked for between 15 to 19 years served - 1,5 months per year.
• Employees who worked for between 20 to 24 years served - 1 month per year.
• Employees who worked for between 25 to 34 years served - 0.5 months per year.

To protect you from unforeseen financial risks arising from terminations, Deel applies a Severance Accrual to all employment agreements in this country.  Deel has extensive expertise in managing litigation risk globally and our Severance Accrual calculation is based on the prevailing common-law or statutory entitlements and local best practices. In the event your employee resigns or is not entitled to severance, all unused amounts will be returned to you.

Sri Lanka celebrates 20-21 national public holidays and Poya holidays. Public holidays include:

• Thai Pongal Day
• Independence Day
• Day preceding Sinhala & Tamil New Year
• Sinhala & Tamil New Year’s Day
• May Day
• Birth of the Prophet
• Christmas
• Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day
• Navam Full Moon Poya Day
• Medin Full Moon Poya Day
• Bak Full Moon Poya Day
• Vesak Poya Day
• Adhi Vesak Full Moon Poya Day
• Poson Full Moon Poya Day
• Esala Full Moon Poya Day
• Nikini Full Moon Poya Day
• Binara Full Moon Poya Day
• Vap Full Moon Poya Day
• Ill Full Moon Poya Day
• Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day

In Sri Lanka, Poya Holidays are non-working days. As 70% of the residents are religious, the government takes these days as public holidays, as well as the ones listed above.

Sri Lanka celebrates over 20 national holidays. Some of them are:

• Tamil Thai-Pongal Day (2 days).
• 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 (2 days).

In Sri Lanka, Poya Holidays are non-working days. As 70% of the residents are religious, the government takes these days as public holidays, as well as the ones listed above.

Contracts can be in English. They must be in writing and signed by both parties.

A contract must include:

• Name
• Start date
• Length of the employment
• Job description
• Termination conditions.