1. Appointment of the committee comprised of ministers on investment promotion.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal submitted by His Excellency the President to appoint
the ‘Ministers’ Committee on investment promotion’ comprised of His Excellency the President as
the Chairman, with the Hon. 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 comprised of the Secretaries of the relevant Ministries and State Ministries and other
relevant officers headed by the Secretary to the President 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 joined 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 of Ministers approved the resolution submitted by the Hon. 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 Government of Sri Lanka and the Government of
Australia in order to implement the phase two of “Skills Project for Inclusive Economic
Growth” (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 Australian Dollars 15 million 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 Government of Australia in the year 2017. Phase one of that project has
been completed by now while the Government of Australia has agreed to award another financial
donation of Australian Dollars 12 million to implement its phase two. Therefore, the Cabinet of
Ministers have given their concurrence for the proposal furnished by the Minister of Education in
order to enter into an agreement with the Government of Australia to implement the said project up to
the year 2024 including Anuradhapura and Matale districts to 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. Bi – lateral aviation services agreement between Sri Lanka and Netherland.
Although approval of the Cabinet of Ministers has been granted to sign a bi - lateral aviation
agreement between Sri Lanka and Netherland on the 30 th July 2019 at their meeting, no such accord
has been signed so far. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal furnished by the
Minister of Tourism 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 of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the
Minister of Justice to sign an agreement between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Government
of Italy 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 of Ministers approved the
proposal presented by Hon. 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 gorse required for government
hospitals and other health institutions for the year 2022
It is an essential activity to annually procure surgical gorse 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 meters of gorse to the medical supplies division for the year
2022. The Standing Procurement Committee appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers has recommended
for procurement of the requirement from 407 local registered suppliers for Rs. 30.55 per meter. The
Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Health 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 Labor 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 Labor 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 Labor Law Ordinance. The bill prepared by the legal
draftsman accordingly has been cleared by the Attorney General. The Cabinet of Ministers approved
the proposal presented by the Minister of Justice 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
of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Justice 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 of Ministers
approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Justice 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 of ministers approved the proposal made by the minister of justice to amend
the said Act and to instruct a legal draftsman to prepare a Bill to that effect. The Cabinet of Ministers
approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Justice 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 of Ministers approved the proposal
presented by the Minister of Justice to publish this bill in the Government Gazette and consequently
submit for the parliamentary approval.
14. Establishment of Maritime Rescue Coordinating Center
The Government of India has agreed to provide a grant of US $ 6 million for the establishment of a
Maritime Rescue Coordinating Center in Sri Lanka. Accordingly the cabinet of Ministers approved
the proposal presented by H.E. the president in his capacity as the Minister of defense to sign a
Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries and to sign an agreement between the
Government of Sri Lanka and Bharath Electronics of India on the establishment of the Center.
15. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for financial assistance from the Government of
India for the implementation of the Sri Lanka Unified Digital Identity Framework
The Government of India 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 of ministers approved the proposal presented by H.E. the President
in his capacity as the Minister of Technology to sign the said MoU.
16. Entering into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of India for the
Development of Fishery Harbors in Sri Lanka
The Government of India has agreed to assist in the development of fishery harbors at mutually
selected locations. Accordingly, the cabinet of ministers approved the proposal presented by the
minister of fisheries to enter in to memorandum of understanding between Sri Lanka and India for the
assistance in the development of fishery harbors in Pointpeduru, Pesale, Gurunagar, Balapitiya and
mutually agreed other places.
