1. Establishment of Economic Council.
His Excellency the President has decided to convene Economic Council weekly with the
objective of accelerating the economic growth in the country through the management of the
entire economy by thoroughly discussing the local economic policies including
macroeconomic policies, the behaviour of the national economy after Covid - 19 pandemic
situation, economic restructuring as well as the major development projects that directly affect
the economic policies and financial policies of the government. The Cabinet of Ministers
decided to grant their concurrence to the measures to be taken by His Excellency the President
to let implement the decisions taken by the relevant Ministries, Departments and Statutory
institutions when necessary subject to the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers followed by
the instructions and guidance of that Board as well as to invite intellects with esteem /
standard in the respective fields as required for the meetings of the Economy board.
Accordingly, the composition of the Economic Council is comprised as follows.
His Excellency the President Gotabhaya Rajapaksha (Chairman)
Hon. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksha
Hon. Minister of Trade Bandula Gunawardhana
Hon. Minister of Highways Johnston Fernando
Hon. Minister of Finance Basille Rajapaksha
Hon. Minister of Agriculture Mahindananda Aluthgamage
Hon. Minister of Plantation Ramesh Pathirana
Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Mr. Ajith Niwad Kabral
Secretary to the President Mr. Gamini Senerath
Secretary to the Treasury Mr. S. R. Aatigala
Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Mr. Dhammika Nanayakkara
2. Releasing a portion of land within Muthurajawela Industrial Zone belonging to Sri
Lanka Land Development Corporation.
A land area of 400 acres in Muthurajawela belonging to Sri Lanka Land Development
Corporation has been developed with pumped sand from the ocean. A number of plots of
lands from this land area have been transferred to both government and private investors for
projects of national importance. Emergent Cold (Pvt.) Company has requested a portion of
this land for cool room facilities while the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka has informed that
the establishment has accomplished the basic qualifications under section 17 of the Sri Lanka
Investment Board Act for receiving the relevant portion of land. Accordingly, the Cabinet of
Ministers has granted approval for the resolution furnished by the Hon. Prime Minister as the
Minister of Urban Development and Housing for awarding the said portion of land in extent
of 04 acres and 02 roods which has been recognized appropriate for the proposed project to
the above Company on long time lease for a period of 30 years.
3. BIMSTEC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters.
The Cabinet of Ministers has previously approved for signing the BIMSTEC Convention on
Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers paid
attention to the fact forwarded by the Minister of Foreign Affairs that necessary actions would
be taken to sign the said accord by the Ministry of Justice respectively with the Bay of Bengal
Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) member
countries at the summit of The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and
Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) scheduled to be held on 30th March 2022
4. BIMSTEC Cooperation Agreement for the establishment of the facility of exchanging
the technology of The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and
Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)
The Cabinet of Ministers has previously approved to enter into the BIMSTEC Cooperation
Agreement on the establishment of the technology exchange facility. Accordingly, the Cabinet
of Ministers paid attention to the fact forwarded by the Minister of Foreign Affairs that
necessary actions would be taken to sign the accord by the State Ministry of Skills
Development, Vocational Education, Research and Innovations respectively with the Bay of
Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)
member countries at the summit of The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral
Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) scheduled to be held on 30 th March 2022
5. Awarding wheelchairs and other transport aids for the rheumatology and rehabilitation
hospital in Ragama.
It has been reported that approximately 1500 individuals are affected annually due to
discrepancies / wounds related to spine. The Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Hospital in
Ragama is the national centre for directing such patients for treatments. Patients in the
hospital annually require approximately 200 wheelchairs, 350 walking aids and 100 limb
substitute sets. A global humanitarian aid institution in the United States of America, Latter -
Day Saint Charities (LDSC) has agreed to grant rupees 43.70 million for the supply training to
the staff of the hospital along with 564 wheelchairs, 370 walking aids and 410 limb substitute
sets. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal submitted by the Minister
of Health for signing an agreement with the relevant donor agency to receive the said
donation.
6. Acquisition of land for the establishment of a new Police Station at Nooriya in
Deraniyagala Police area.
Nooriya Police Station has been identified to be established in No. 110, Dodawatte Grama
Niladhari division, in the divisional secretariat division of Deraniyagala, in the district of
Kegalle. The establishment of the said new Police Station would enable supplying efficient
Police services as well as minimize crimes and corruption taking place in the area to ensure
safety. The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal furnished by the Minister of
Public Security to acquire 02 acres from Nooriyawatte land belong to Public Estate
Development Board which is under the Ministry of Agriculture for the establishment of the
said Police Station.
7. Engaging an independent consultant for the SPMC - Lotus Pharma project of State
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation.
Establishment of SPMC - Lotus Pharma project of State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
Corporation has been approved by the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers at the meeting held
on the 08th March 2021. It was approved at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on
the 25th October 2021 to follow the international competitive bidding methodology for
selecting a consultant / Consultancy Agency for implementing the above - mentioned project.
International competitive bids have been invited followed by that decision and the standing
procurement committee appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers has recommended awarding the
relevant procurement to Meridian Engineers and Consultancy Services in India that has
accomplished the substantial responsive bidding. Accordingly, approval of the Cabinet of
Ministers was granted for the resolution furnished by the Minister of Health to appoint the
said entity as the Consultant for the proposed project.
08. Post Office Security Fund Ordinance
Post Office Security Fund has been established under Post Office Security Fund Ordinance
No1 of 1931. Cabinet approval has been granted to amend the Ordinance to enable the Fund to
provide an effective service to all members of the Postal Department, but the relevant bill has
not been completed yet. Therefore, the cabinet of ministers approved the proposal made by the
Minister of Mass Media and Information to draft the said Bill with provisions to suit the
present requirements.
09. Amendments to the Code of Civil Procedures (Chapter 101) (Repeal of Chapter XLIII)
Sub-Committee of drafting bills on Matrimonial Matters has been set up as one of the sub-
committees of Special Unit for extensive reform of the law with Cabinet approval. A bill
has been drafted by the committee including the basic provisions on divorce, grounds for
Separation and annulment of Marriage, the procedure for matrimonial causes is contained in
Chapter XLIII of the Code of Civil Procedure and will not be required once the proposed
Matrimonial Matters Act comes into force. Accordingly, Cabinet of Ministers approved the
proposal made by the Minister of Justice to repeal that chapter XLIII of the Code of Civil
Procedure and to advice the legal draftsman to prepare a Bill to that effect.
10. Investigations on complaints regarding missing persons
The Office on Missing Persons has been established in accordance with the provisions of Act
No. 14 of 2016. Regional offices has been established in Matara, Mannar, Jaffna, Batticaloa
and Kilinochchi and have received 14,988 complaints on missing persons. The office has to
play a big role, including issuing reports to relatives of missing persons after conducting
formal investigations in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Accordingly, the proposal
made by the Minister of Justice to appoint 25 Boards of Inquiry to expedite the investigation
of these complaints and to implement an expeditious program.
11. Approval to submit the Regulations published in the Gazette to Parliament
Four Special Commodity Orders bearing No. 48 of 2007 have been issued to implement
government policy decisions aimed at providing relief to consumers and protecting local
farmers by maintaining a stable market price of essential food items. Also, an order has been
issued by the Minister of Finance under the Revenue protection Ordinance No. 19 of 1962 to
revise the customs import duty on certain selected goods and to establish National
Subdivision Integrated Customs Code. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the
proposal made by the Minister of Finance to submit the said Order and Ordinance to
Parliament for approval.
12. Equipment for National Plant Quarantine Service under the Japanese Non-Project
Grant Assistance Scheme
International marketing of disease free and pest free plants and plant productions is essential
for the development of the agricultural sector and related trade sectors. The National Plant
Quarantine Service has been established to facilitate such trade. The Government of Japan has
agreed to provide a grant of 500 million Japanese Yen (approximately Rs. 880 million) for the
Plant Quarantine Service through the Non-Project Grants Assistance Scheme under the
Economic and Social Development Program for the financial year 2022/2023. Accordingly
the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Finance to sign
the relevant exchange sheets,
13. Incentives for the promotion of emigrant remittances
The Foreign Employment Sector, a major source of foreign exchange for Sri Lanka, remits of
approximately US $ 7-8 billion annually to Sri Lanka. The foreign exchange earned by
migrant workers should be appreciated and more economic benefits should be given to their
family members and dependents to encourage the remittances into the country during the
coming New Year. Accordingly the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by
the Minister of Labour to increase the current incentive allowance of Rs. 10 per dollar to Rs.
38 per dollar.
14. Implementation of an incentive scheme based on export progress
An Exporters' Incentive Scheme is designed to ease the difficulties faced by exporters such as
high inflation, severe foreign exchange deficit, restrictions on imports of raw materials and
high operating costs, and to increase the progress in export performance achieved during
the last year. Implementation of the proposed incentive scheme is expected to generate
additional revenue of US $ 5500 million in 2022 over export earnings in 2021. Cabinet of
Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Trade to pay an incentive of Rs.
30 per dollar earned on export earnings earned over the previous quarter to companies that
have achieved at least 10% export progress compared to the corresponding quarter of the
previous year
