01. Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Health in Sri
Lanka and the Christian Medical College of Vellore, India
A programme for transplant of bone marrow was inaugurated in Lady Ridgeway Hospital for
Children in 2015 while the Christian Medical College of Vellore, India has assisted in training
the staff required to perform this service. Initial infrastructure facilities required for bone
marrow transplant have been initiated in Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children and the above
medical college has given its concurrence to formally assist in the consultation and training
fields to make this endeavor a success. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the
resolution furnished by the Minister of Health to sign the Memorandum of Understanding
between the Ministry of Health in Sri Lanka and the Christian Medical College of Vellore,
India.
02. Obtaining assistance of the Asian Foundation for continuous maintenance of Mediation
activities related to Community Mediation Boards Councils (Samatha Mandala) and
special land Mediation board (Samatha Mandala for lands)
The Asian Foundation that has assisted the Mediation Board (Samatha Mandala) programme
in Sri Lanka from the beginning has given concurrence for further financial assistance for
continuous maintenance and strengthening of mediation activities related to Mediation Boards
(Samatha Mandala) and special land Mediation Boards (Samatha Mandala for lands).
Accordingly, the Asian Foundation has agreed to grant approximately rupees 127 million for
the said purpose. The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the resolution furnished by the
Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms to sign a memorandum of
understanding in order to obtain the said grant.
03. Allocation of a plot of land for Ceylon College of Physicians
Ceylon College of Physicians was incorporated as per the provisions of the act No. 26 of 1974
in order to promote education of medical practitioners in Sri Lanka. The College has made a
request to allocate a plot of land to establish and maintain a new office complex. Accordingly,
the Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to the proposal made by the Minister of Tourism
and Lands to transfer a plot of land in extent of 21.30 perches belong to the State and within
the purview of the Divisional Secretariat Division of Thimbirigasyaya to Ceylon College of
Physicians by a free grant.
04. Implementation of the National Environmental Action Plan for the period of 2022 – 2030
Approval was granted at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on 20.06.2022 for the
National Environmental Policy. Accordingly, the Ministry of Environment has prepared the
National Environmental Action Plan for the period of 2022 – 2030 with the contribution of all
relevant parties by paying attention on the environmental challenges in the twenty first century
as well as considering the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations in order to
implement the National Environmental Policy. The Cabinet of Ministers approved the
resolution furnished by the Minister of Environment to implement the said action plan, to take
policy decisions at national level in that connection and to establish the consolidated
environment and development policy committee with the chairing of the Secretary to the
President for monitoring the same.
05. Transferring legal powers to maintain the Sri Lanka Navy Hydrological Service at the
national level.
Discussions were held at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers on 05.09.2022 about the
proposal to entrust the Sri Lanka Navy with the naval and maritime services within the local
waters and identical economic zone of Sri Lanka and a sub – committee was appointed with
the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation as the head to submit recommendations by
studying further facts about the said proposal. The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal
furnished by the Hon. President as the Minister of Defense to entrust the naval and maritime
activities to Sri Lanka Navy within the local waters and identical economic zone of Sri Lanka
as a non – naval duty as per the recommendation of the above sub – committee and to establish
a National Maritime Office so that all institutions related to this subject can perform jointly.
06. Amending the Mediation Board Act No72 of 1988
Cabinet approval was granted on 22.09.2022 to introduce regulations to the Mediation Board
Act No.72 of 1988 to meet present requirements concerning the appointment of Mediation
Board commission Members, Determination of Mediation Board Jurisdiction and Disputes
that cannot be settled & Filing cases in court concerning such disputes. Accordingly, the Bill
prepared by the Legal Draftsman has been received the clearance of the Attorney General. As
such, the proposal made by the Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms
to publish the said Bill in the Government Gazette and submit the same, thereafter to
Parliament for approval, was approved by the Cabinet.
07. The Mediation (Settlement of Civil and Commercial Disputes) Bill
The Parliament has passed the Commercial Mediation Centre Of Sri Lanka Act No. 44 of
2000 to establish a Center for Commercial Mediation. However, the said Act has not been
able to fulfill its intended purpose due to various technical reasons and certain restrictions. At
present, voluntary mediation is adopted by many countries to resolve disputes and the most
of those countries have taken steps to introduce rules and regulations for voluntary mediation.
Those countries have also enacted laws required to empower their courts to take action against
parties who refuse voluntary mediation without acceptable reasons. Focusing on that
international trend, the need to introduce new laws into the legal system of the country to
encourage voluntary mediation has been identified. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers
approved the proposal presented by Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional
Reforms to initiate for the formulation of Mediation (Settlement of Civil and Commercial
Disputes) Bill that repeal the Commercial Mediation Centre Of Sri Lanka Act No. 44 of 2000,
and to provide for the provisions of the Act on Voluntary Arbitration of Civil and Commercial
Disputes and for matters incidental thereto.
08. Preparation of the Bill for the Establishment of Parliamentary Budget Office
A preliminary Bill for the establishment of the Parliamentary Budget Office was presented by
the Hon. President to the Cabinet meeting held on 31.10.2022 for consideration. It was
decided to forward the draft Bill to all the party leaders in the Parliament and get their opinions
on the matters mentioned therein. Accordingly, the Prime Minister has discussed the relevant
preliminary Bill with the party leaders and the ideas presented in the discussion were
submitted for the consideration of the Cabinet of Ministers. Accordingly, the Cabinet of
Ministers decided to instruct the legal draftsman to prepare a bill based on the preliminary bill
taking into account the comments made.
09. The Australian Volunteer Cooperation Program 2022-2027
The Australian Volunteer Cooperation Program funded by the Australian Government is in
operation in over 26 countries. Grants are made under the program to make a change through
actions carried out at the local level and to assist partner organizations in achieving the
Sustainable Development Goals. A memorandum of understanding was signed in 2017 to
implement this program in Sri Lanka. The period of that MoU has now ended. As such, 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 sign an affiliated
agreement to implement the said program for another 5 years in the country.
10. Entering into a Memorandum of Understanding on Immigration between Sri Lanka and
the Maldives
In the course of bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and the Maldives it has been proposed
to establish a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in immigration matters between
the two countries. Accordingly the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by
the Minister of Public Security to enter in to a Memorandum of Understanding to improve
and strengthen cooperation in immigration matters between the two countries in order to
achieve the objectives of assisting in frontier control management for mutual benefit,
providing mutual facilities for capacity building in HR systems and technology sectors,
exchanging training facilities of immigration officials, preventing international crimes such
as informal migration, human trafficking and trading human beings and promoting
cooperation related to the problems of blacklisted travelers.
