By country
Layoffs in Sri Lanka
5 sourced layoff rounds at 5 companies in Sri Lanka between Apr 2022 and Mar 2026: 7,545 people in the rounds where a number was given. Each one links to the article or filing it came from. The list covers what we have been able to source, not every cut in the country.
People affected
8K
Where a number was given
Companies
5
With a sourced round
Rounds
5
Apr 2022 → Mar 2026
Every round, newest first
- Ceylon Electricity Board−2,153
Staff applied to leave under a voluntary retirement scheme as the state power utility was dissolved and split into successor companies.
About the figure: Voluntary departures under restructuring; officials said no employee would be forced out.
Energy & Utilities · Source: Daily Mirror
- MAS Holdings−2,200
Sri Lanka's largest apparel exporter ended garment production at its Methliya plant in Thulhiriya to convert it to fabric processing, citing a prolonged fall in global apparel demand.
About the figure: Jobs affected rather than confirmed losses: all 2,200 were offered transfers to other MAS plants or compensation.
Textiles & Apparel · Source: Daily FT
The British retailer's Sri Lankan arm shut its Katunayake free trade zone plant overnight, citing rising costs and continued losses; staff were told by WhatsApp.
About the figure: The company statement put the exact figure at 1,416 of 2,825 workers.
Textiles & Apparel · Source: Newswire
Sri Lanka liquidated the state owned wholesale trader on 30 September 2023 and retired its permanent staff, among the first state enterprise closures under the IMF programme.
About the figure: Figure comes from a statement by the laid off workers' own committee.
Retail & Corporate · Source: World Socialist Web Site
- Esquel Sri Lanka−1,500
The Hong Kong shirt maker closed its two Koggala factories after brands withdrew orders following US sanctions on its parent over Xinjiang.
About the figure: Figure from a labour rights group statement; the factories stopped operating on 15 March 2022 pending approval to terminate contracts.
Textiles & Apparel · Source: Clean Clothes Campaign
Search every company in the directory, or read how we choose and check events in the methodology.