Labour Ministry launches probe into “Mr. Kottu” chain after owner’s arrest

Colombo, July 02 (Daily Mirror) - The Ministry of Labour has ordered an urgent investigation into the popular “Mr. Kottu” restaurant chain following the recent arrest of its owner, Viraj Wickramanayake.

According to the ministry, Deputy Minister of Labour Mahinda Jayasinghe has instructed the Department of Labour to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the operations of the food outlet chain and submit a detailed report.

The move follows the arrest of Wickramanayake by Maharagama Police on June 30 after a video allegedly showing verbal abuse and physical assault of an employee at one of the chain’s outlets went viral on social media. The suspect is scheduled to be produced before the Gangodawila Magistrate’s Court.

Authorities have also expanded the scope of the inquiry beyond the alleged assault. The Department of Labour has been directed to investigate whether the company has complied with labour regulations, including proper payment of Employee Provident Fund (EPF) and Employee Trust Fund (ETF) contributions for staff.

The “Mr. Kottu” chain reportedly operates 12 outlets islandwide, and labour officers are expected to carry out inspections at each branch to assess working conditions and gather employee complaints, including potential industrial disputes.

The ministry has also received reports of recent branch closures, prompting further checks into whether affected employees received legally required compensation.

The Department of Labour has been given until July 7, 2026, to complete the investigation and submit its findings to the Deputy Minister.