H.E. Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka, Sri Lanka's Ambassador & Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva and Madam Sanja Jayatilleka hosted a reception in honour of the Members of the Governing Body of the International Labour Organization (ILO) on 18th March at the Reception Hall of the ILO. Ambassador Jayatilleka is also the Chairperson of the Governing Body of the ILO.

The reception was held on the sidelines of the 301st Session of the Governing Body which takes place in Geneva from 6th to 20th March 2008. The Sri Lankan delegation to the Session was led by Hon. Athauda Seneviratne, Minister of Labour Relations and Manpower. The reception was attended by ministers, labour and employer representatives from several countries. 

The Governing Body is the executive body of the International Labour Office (the Office is the Secretariat of the Organization). It meets three times a year, in March, June and November. It takes decisions on ILO policy, decides the agenda of the International Labour Conference, adopts the draft Programme and Budget of the Organization for submission to the Conference, and elects the Director-General. The Governing Body is composed of 56 titular members (28 Governments, 14 Employers and 14 Workers) and 66 deputy members (28 Governments, 19 Employers and 19 Workers).

Ten of the titular government seats are permanently held by States of chief industrial importance (Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States). The other Government members are elected by the Conference every three years (the last elections were held in June 2005). The Employer and Worker members are elected in their individual capacity.   International Labour Organization (ILO)   www.ilo.org