1. Appointment of the committee comprising ministers on investment promotion
The Cabinet Ministers approved the proposal submitted by the President to appoint the ‘Ministers’ Committee on investment promotion’ comprising the President as the Chairman, with the Prime Minister and relevant Ministers along with State Ministers with the objective of providing required policy and practical solutions for recognizing and promoting investment opportunities in the relevant sectors; paying attention of the pioneer sectors at national level for the accomplishment of Government’s development targets as well as to appoint an officials’ committee comprising the Secretaries of the relevant Ministries and State Ministries and other relevant officers headed by the President’s Secretary in order to assist the above Ministers’ Committee.
2. Strengthening innovation systems
“Citra Institute” has been established in the year 2018 as the first ever social research institute in South Asia with the assistance of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka.
Citra Innovation Research Institute has carried out a considerable workload joining with government, non – government, and private partners during the past. Accordingly, based on the experiences obtained during the previous period, it has been planned to inaugurate the activities of phase two of Citra Innovation Research Institute with the participation of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Therefore, the Cabinet Ministers approved the resolution submitted by the Prime Minister to continue to operate as a project that is assisted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) guided and coordinated by the Prime Minister’s office such as in other countries of the world and to establish a project control board implemented under the monitoring of the Secretary to the Prime Minister and the residential representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
3. Signing the proposed accord between the Sri Lanka Government and the Australia Government in order to implement the phase two of “Skills Project for Inclusive EconomicGrowth” (Skills for Inclusive Growth – S4IG)
“Skills Project for Inclusive Economic Growth” (Skills for Inclusive Growth – S4IG) has been implemented within 4 years in the districts of Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Ampara and Polonnaruwa depending on a financial donation of 15 million Australian Dollars received under Australian Government Funding Programme with the objective of enhancing the entrepreneurship within the tourism sector improving value chains in the tourism sector in this country, in concurrence with an agreement entered with the Australia Government in the year 2017.
Phase one of that project has been completed by now, while the Australia Government has agreed to award another financial donation of 12 million Australian Dollars to implement its phase two.
Therefore, the Cabinet Ministers have given their concurrence for the proposal furnished by the Education Minister in order to enter into an agreement with the Australian Government to implement the said project up to 2024 including Anuradhapura and Matale districts for the phase two of the project in addition to the 4 districts in which the project was implemented during the phase one.
4. Signing a Memorandum of Understanding between China Academy of Agriculture Mechanization Science – CAAMS and the Department of Agriculture
There had been a Memorandum of Understanding in the year 2017 between the China Academy of Agriculture Mechanization Science – CAAMS and the Department of Agriculture. It has been proposed to enter into a new Memorandum of Understanding between the parties since the period of that Memorandum of Understanding has been concluded.
The two parties expect to establish model villages on the sectors of agricultural machinery, exchanging experts on agricultural machinery, implementing training programmes, establishment of agricultural machinery model centres and conducting combined researches on agricultural mechanization under the proposed Memorandum of Understanding collectively. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal furnished by the Minister of Agriculture to sign the Memorandum of Understanding between the two parties.
5. Bilateral aviation services agreement between Sri Lanka and Netherlands
Although approval of the Cabinet Ministers has been granted to sign a bi-lateral aviation agreement between Sri Lanka and Netherlands on July 30, 2019 at their meeting, no such accord has been signed so far.
Therefore, the Cabinet Ministers approved the proposal furnished by the Tourism Minister to sign the said aviation services agreement with the objective of further enhancing the relationship between the two countries on aviation sector activities.
6. Agreement between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Italy for handing over / transferring the convicted individuals
The Transfer of Offenders’ Act No. 5 of 1995 carries the provisions for transferring any convicted individual, who has been convicted in a court of law in Sri Lanka, imposed a penalty, and put behind bars in the individuals’ relevant country so that the person can take the punishment thereof.
Whereas it carries the provisions to accept any Sri Lankan convicted in another country. In order to act accordingly, it is compulsory to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding between Sri Lanka and the relevant country. Therefore, the Cabinet Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Justice Minister to sign an agreement between the Sri Lanka Government and the Italian Government for exchange such convicted individuals.
7. Implementation of a rental ownership scheme for those who rented houses and living under minor facilities
The State Ministry of Rural Housing, Construction and Building Materials Industrial Promotion has planned a housing scheme called ‘’Kuli Sinna’’ to address the housing problems of renters living with less facilities without land and houses. It is proposed to construct 4 store housing complexes under the said project and 9 housing complexes consisting of 464 houses under the first phase.
Since the beneficiaries selected are those who are unable to make a down payment the proposed project is designed to recover a monthly rent of Rs. 15,000 over a period of 31 years and to enter into an agreement with the beneficiaries so that the house can be transferred to the second or third generation and the house cannot be sold for any reason.
Accordingly, the Cabinet Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Prime Minister in his capacity as the Minister of Urban Development and Housing to implement the proposed project.
8. Awarding the procurement of the purchase of surgical gauzes required for government hospitals and other health institutions for the year 2022
It is an essential activity to annually procure surgical gauzes, which is an essential surgical good required for clinical activities and surgeries in the government hospitals.
Therefore, it has been estimated of a requirement of 30 million metres of gauze to the medical supplies division for the year 2022. The Standing Procurement Committee appointed by the Cabinet Ministers has recommended for procurement of the requirement from 407 local registered suppliers for Rs. 30.55 per metre.
The Cabinet Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Health Minister for awarding the procurement to the recommended suppliers as per the recommendation.
9. Submission of the Industrial Disputes (Special Provisions) Bill to Parliament
Such as violations of provisions of the Labour Ordinance by employers and the imposition of statutory rights of employees. A large number of cases that can be resolved in a short period such as violations of provisions of the Labour Ordinance by employers and the imposition of statutory rights of employees have are filed in Magistrates’ Courts.
It has been found that it takes a long time to make decisions for them. Cabinet approval has been granted to introduce a Special Provisions Act on Industrial Disputes to give concurrent jurisdiction to the Magistrates’ Court and the Labor Tribunal to expedite the settlement of cases filed under the Labour Law Ordinance.
The Bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman accordingly has been cleared by the Attorney General. The Cabinet Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Justice Minister to publish this Bill in the Government Gazette and consequently submit to Parliament for approval.
10. Dangerous Animals Ordinance
Cabinet approval has been granted for the amendment of Dangerous Animals Ordinance. The Bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman accordingly has been cleared by the Attorney General. The Cabinet Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Justice Minister to publish this Bill in the Government Gazette and consequently submit to Parliament for approval.
11. Amendments to the Last Wills Ordinance
Cabinet approval has been granted for the amendment of Last Wills Ordinance. The Bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman accordingly has been cleared by the Attorney General.
The Cabinet Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Justice Minister to publish this Bill in the Government Gazette and consequently submit to Parliament for approval.
12. Amendments to the Marriage Registration Ordinance
Cabinet approval has been given to introduce new laws regarding the registration of foreign divorces, marriage annulment or recognition of judicial separation.
The Legal Draftsmen are currently preparing Bills for this purpose. Although the requirements to be fulfilled for the registration of a marriage should be included in the Marriage Registration Ordinance, the Ordinance does not include provisions regarding foreign marriage registration, annulment of marriage or judicial separation.
Therefore, the Cabinet Ministers approved the proposal made by the Justice Minister to amend the said Act and to instruct a legal draftsman to prepare a Bill to that effect.
The Cabinet Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Justice Minister to publish this Bill in the Government Gazette and consequently submit for the parliamentary approval.
13. Amendment of Revocation of Irrevocable Deeds of Gift on the ground of Gross Ingratitude Act
The need to introduce provisions to provide legal relief has been identified in the events, where there are donees who expel donor who gift their property irrevocably and in cases, where the donees fraudulently transfer the relevant property to a third party.
Cabinet approval has been granted to introduce amendments to Revocation of Irrevocable Deeds of Gift on the ground of Gross Ingratitude Act No. 5 of 2017 to make arrangements for this purpose. The Bill drafted accordingly by the Draftsman has been cleared by the Attorney General.
The Cabinet Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Justice Minister to publish this Bill in the Government Gazette and consequently submit for the parliamentary approval.
14. Establishment of Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre
The Indian Government has agreed to provide a grant of US $ 6 million for the establishment of a Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre in Sri Lanka.
Accordingly the Cabinet Ministers approved the proposal presented by the President in his capacity as the Defense Minister to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries and to sign an agreement between the Sri Lanka Government and Bharath Electronics of India on the establishment of the Centre.
15. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for financial assistance from the Indian Government for the implementation of the Sri Lanka Unified Digital Identity Framework
The Indian Government has agreed to provide a grant of Indian Rs. 300 Million to implement Sri Lanka Unified Digital Identity Framework. It is proposed to sign MoU between the two countries to obtain the said grants.
The draft Memorandum of Understanding has been cleared by the Attorney General. Accordingly, the Cabinet Ministers approved the proposal presented by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Technology to sign the said MoU.
16. Entering into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian Government for the Development of Fishery Harbours in Sri Lanka
The India Government has agreed to assist in the development of fishery harbours at mutually selected locations.
Accordingly, the Cabinet Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Fisheries Minister to enter in to memorandum of understanding between Sri Lanka and India for the assistance in the development of fishery harbours in Point Pedro, Pesalai, Gurunagar, Balapitiya and mutually agreed other places.
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