“We believe in recrui­ting competent, innovative and committed staff who are people friendly, thereby ensuring a stable and enjoyable working environment

Sriyan de Silva Wijeyeratne

Chairman
CEO

Q: Being a state enterprise, what do you consider to be the pillars of the Employees’ Trust Fund Board’s (ETFB) workforce?

A: At the ETFB, we aim to become a dynamic and efficient trust fund for all our stakeholders through organisational excellence. We plan to do this by being the most caring and prudent trust fund; and we seek to provide a wide range of financial and other member benefits coupled with excellent customer service.

We believe in recruiting competent, innovative and committed staff who are people friendly, thereby ensuring a stable and enjoyable working environment.

Furthermore, we have established many supportive policies, and other systems and procedures, to help staff members to perform at their best. We also recently moved to a new building to provide better service to all parties.

Q: How has your organisation fared during the pandemic?

A: Despite not being an essential service, the ETFB team realised its importance during the crisis so we were one of the few nonessential state services that did not shut down.

We worked in shifts with small groups of people and had special transport arrangements. Thanks to their amazing commitment, we disbursed about Rs. 1 billion at the peak of the shutdown for the public’s economic relief.

By waiving several hundred millions of rupees in penalties for all businesses that were struggling to pay their ETF dues on time, we extended a limited term amnesty scheme of sorts. Through this, many organisations were able to operate with more comfortable payment timelines and they were quite appreciative.

Q: What are your thoughts on the recent award won by the ETFB?

A: The ETFB was declared the winner of the Best Annual Report in the Public Sector category at the Public Sector Best Annual Reports & Accounts Awards held in February. We’re honoured as this award is a reflection of so much hard work put in by our team to become a leading example of public sector success in Sri Lanka.

We continue to strive for higher standards, transparency, good efficient service and accountability in all our engagements. Our General Manager and the finance leadership team deserve credit for this win.

Q: And what is the philosophy driving ETFB?

A: ETFB was established under the Employees’ Trust Fund Act No. 46 of 1980 and commenced operations in March 1981. It was established under the Ministry of Labour and presently operates under the purview of the Ministry of Finance.

Unlike the Employees’ Provident  Fund (EPF), only employers make a three percent contribution on behalf of employees or members. Therefore, it is a noncontributory benefit for our members.

Special consideration is also given to increase the voluntary membership of self-employed people and migrant workers who make a sizable contribution to the economy.

That being said, our main objectives are to promote employee ownership, employee welfare, economic democracy through participation in financing and investment and employee participation in management through the acquisition of equity interest in enterprises, and provide the noncontributory benefits to employees following their retirement.

Telephone 2503410 | Email chairman@etfb.lk | Website www.etfb.lk