01. Opportunity for the public to visit national parks, entertainment parks, and botanical gardens and view films in cinemas throughout the country on the 75th Independence Day free of charge.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Hon. President to make opportunity for the public to visit the national parks, entertainment parks, and botanical gardens as well as provide a cut down of 50% from the tickets to view films in cinemas throughout the country free of charge on the 75th Independence Day that falls on the 04 of February 2023.
02. Declaration of the ‘National Biosphere Protection Day’
The UNESCO has declared 03rd of November of each year as the ‘National Biosphere Protection Day’. The UNESCO emphasizes that measures should be taken to draw the attention of the people by the member states of the organization to encourage to preserve the biosphere reserves. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the proposal submitted by the Minister of Education to declare 3rd of November of every year to be the ‘National Biosphere Protection Day’
03. Amendment of the National Pharmaceutical Policy of Sri Lanka
The national pharmaceutical policy has been published in the year 2005 and 15 years have elapsed since then making it a necessity to revise the said policy to cater the concurrent requirements. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval for the resolution furnished by the Minister of Health to revise the national pharmaceutical policy by a committee appointed by the Secretary to the Ministry of Health.
04. Agreement for exchange of offenders between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Mauritius
In terms of the provisions of the Transfer of Offenders Act No. 5 of 1995, there is the opportunity for any foreigner proven guilty by a court of law in Sri Lanka and is prisoned to be under the imprisonment for him / her by being in his / her country where he / she is a citizen. Furthermore, the act contains provisions for sending any Sri Lankan who has been under imprisonment in another country to Sri Lanka and be under the same imprisonment within Sri Lanka until the penalty is fully covered. In order to act in such a way, there should be an agreement entered in to between Sri Lanka and the other relevant country. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval for the resolution submitted by the Minister of Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms to enter into the agreement between Sri Lanka and the Republic of Mauritius to exchange offenders between the two countries.
05. Establishment of a Presidential Task Force for the prevention of usage of dangerous and narcotic drugs (NDDS)
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the combined cabinet memorandum furnished by the Hon. President as the Minister of Defence, the Minister of Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms and the Minister of Public Security to establish a Presidential Task Force to identify, plan, and implement appropriate practical measures for prevention of the usage of dangerous and narcotic drugs.
06. “Committee Appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers” in terms of the provisions of the Petroleum Products (Special Provisions) (Amendment) Act No. 27 of 2022.
Section 5 (1) of the Petroleum Products (Special Provisions) Act No. 33 of 2002 comprises provisions that licenses can be issued by the subject Minister for import, export, sale, supply and distribution of petroleum to any individual or a company on the recommendations of the “Energy Supply Committee” appointed as per the provisions of the section 02 of Energy Supply (Temporary Provisions) Act No. 02 of 2002. However, due to imposition of the Energy Supply (Temporary Provisions) Act No. 02 of 2002 for two years, the energy supply committee appointed under the provisions of that act has been abolish. In terms of the Petroleum Products (Special Provisions) (Amendment) Act No. 27 of 2022, provisions have been furnished to appoint a “Committee Appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers” instead of the “Energy Supply Committee”. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the proposal furnished by the Minister of Electricity and Power to appoint the said Committee.
07. National policy on the environmentally sensitive areas in Sri Lanka.
Numerous issues have emerged such as degradation of ecosystems, soil erosion, drying of hydro - catchment areas / water sources as well as human – wildlife conflicts due to various human activities such as informal land use, agricultural habits as well as the irregular disposal of waste and non – sustainable utilization of national resources. As a result of this, the foundation of the bio – diversity and eco – systems have been threatened. This may lead to a vicious circle of eco – systems degradation in the long run. Therefore, the purpose and the expectation of the establishment of national policy on environmental sensitive areas is to ensure a healthy, secure and conserved environment and an economy through establishment of environmentally sensitive areas aiming at an environment that socio – economic wellbeing and liveability of everyone is ensured. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the proposal furnished by the Minister of Environment to implement the national policy on environmentally sensitive areas of Sri Lanka in order to provide the necessary guidance required for the conservation of the environmentally sensitive areas, as well as sustainable utilization by ensuring management access at all levels along with obtaining the participation of all sectors such as the community, private sector, state sector and experts for planning land utilization and management in those areas identifying the environmentally sensitive areas throughout the island.
08. National Framework for Eco Labeling in Sri Lanka
Producers should carry out their production activities in a sustainable manner and consumers should consume products and services responsibly and prudently for long-term environmental, social and economic well-being. For that purpose, scientific methods such as standardization and certification should be introduced to verify the 12th
Sustainable Development Goal "Ensure Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns". Accordingly the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal made by the Minister of Environment to implement the national framework for Eco Labeling in order to confirm the environmental performance of products to its customers including other supply chain stakeholders and to enable customers or buyers to make relevant product purchase decisions with confidence.
09. Increasing Youth Representation in Local Government Institutions
The Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs has focused on providing opportunities for youth representation in the decision-making process. Hon. Premnath Sri Dollawatta, Colombo District Member of Parliament has submitted a private bill to Parliament in relation to this. District Member of Parliament has submitted a private bill to Parliament. It has been recognized that it is desirable to increase the representation of youth in local government bodies with the aim of creating an environment where the entire youth community’s advancement and their aspirations can be achieved. Accordingly , the Cabinet of Ministers granted policy approval for the proposal presented by the Minister of Youth Affairs to amend the Provincial Council Elections Ordinance by making provision for the appointment of youth with regard to not less than 25% of the number of members to be elected according to the first nomination paper and not less than 25% of the number of members to be elected according to the second nomination paper in such a way as to preserve women's representation as per the existing provisions of the Provincial Council Elections Ordinance.
10. The Law provide for the control of election expenditure
The bill prepared by the legal draftsman to provide for the control of election expenditure has received the Attorney General’s clearance. Accordingly the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms to publish this bill in Govt. Gazette and consequently submit for the parliamentary approval.
11. Revision of National Archives Law No. 48 of 1973
According to the decision taken by the Cabinet of Ministers on 05.12.2012, the Legal Draftsman has been directed to prepare the bill to amend the National Archives Law No. 48 of 1973. The legal draftsman has informed that the policy approval of the current Cabinet should be obtained for the bill prepared accordingly. In addition to paper documents, audio-visual documents, film documents, and digital documents are widely available for preservation. Therefore, the need to further amend the Act to meet international standards and national needs has been identified. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Buddhasashana, Religious and Cultural affairs to appoint a committee consisting of experts in document management, document preservation and digital document management to identify appropriate amendments and to take necessary steps accordingly to further amend the bill prepared by the legal draftsman by including appropriate provisions.
12. Introducing a new Act in place of Police Ordinance No16 of 1865
The Police Ordinance No16 of 1865 currently in force has been amended 37 times in the past. The Cabinet has given approval to revise it again in the Cabinet meeting on 19.11.2014. However, it has been recognized that the introduction of a new Act is appropriate based on current social trends. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Public Security to take necessary steps to introduce a new Act in place of the Police Ordinance No16 of 1865.
13. Submission of the regulations issued under the Import and Export (Control) Act No. 1 of 1969 for Parliamentary approval
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Hon. President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies to submit the Import Control Regulation for Payment Terms No. 19 of 2022 and Import and Export (Control) Regulations No20 of 2022 issued under the Import and Export (Control) Act No. 1 of 1969 to the Parliament for approval.
14. Proposed Banking (Special Provisions) Act
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has identified that strengthening the Bank Resolution Framework, under the Crisis Management Framework of Financial Institutions Regulated by
the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, as an urgent and priority task. The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank have also pointed out the importance of strengthening the resolution framework to strengthen financial sector safety nets. It is difficult to enact a new complete banking law in a short period. Therefore, the proposed Banking (Special Provisions) Act will be drawn up as a supplement to the Banking Act No. 30 of 1988, introducing provisions for resolution of licensed banks, deposit insurance and winding up/liquidation of licensed banks.
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has prepared an initial Bill accordingly and the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon. President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, economic stabilization and National Policies to advice Legal Draftsman to prepare a Bill based on the initial Bill above.
