SL Defence Ministry to regularize private security agencies

Colombo (News 1st): The Defence Ministry in Sri Lanka says it will regularize private security services by introducing minimum wage for security guards, registration of new security firms and renewal of licenses. Defence Secretary Maj. Gen. (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne said plans were drawn to regularize private security services which operate island-wide to provide a quality security service. He said measures would be taken to streamline registration and license renewal process of security service providers by formulating an expedited procedure. Maj. Gen. Gunaratne said the contribution by the private security services to the Employees' Provident Fund and the Employees' Trust Fund would be strictly supervised under the new renewal process. While highlighting the prevailing wage rate, the Defence Secretary requested the private security service agencies to pay fair salaries to their employees according to their contribution and the country’s cost of living.