01. Deed for Doctors of Vedagama Traditional Medicine Village
The Model Village Vedagama has been established within Dompe Divisional Secretariat area to
evaluate the services of doctors who have been engaged in indigenous medicine in Sri Lanka so that
indigenous medicine can be uplifted and the services of doctors who show skills for different fields
can be obtained at one place. Land plots have been allocated for 25 traditional doctors so that each
person gets nearly an acre of land, but so far the ownership of the respective lands has not been handed
over to them. The main obstacle to transfer that right to the traditional doctors is the existence of a
transfer deed in the name of the Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medicine for those
lands. The Attorney General has given instructions on the measures to be taken regarding the transfer
of the relevant lands to the traditional doctors. As such the proposal made by the Minister of Health
and Indigenous Medicine to proceed according to the instructions and take the necessary steps to
provide formal grant for the respective lands was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
02. Providing a portion of land belonging to the Urban Development Authority in Dambulla for an
agriculture-related warehouse and industrial project
The Cabinet of Ministers has given approval on 19.10.2020 to invite investment proposals from
private sector investors on a competitive basis for the development of lands belonging to the Urban
Development Authority. The Standing Negotiation Committee has given approval to provide a 03 rood
17.75 perch of land located in the Dambulla Divisional Secretariat belonging to the Urban
Development Authority on a lease basis for the implementation of a agriculture-related warehouse and
industrial project. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the
Minister of Urban Development and Housing to provide the said land to Dambulla Agro Cool
Holdings Pvt. Ltd for a period of 30 years on a lease basis.
03. Entering into a memorandum of understanding for technical cooperation between the Sri Lanka
Electricity Board and the Japan Electricity Information Centre
Ceylon Electricity Board has been cooperating with the Japan Electricity Information Center since
2018. A technical cooperation program has also been implemented in 2019. Both parties have agreed
to enter into a memorandum of understanding to implement a technical cooperation program from the
year 2023 so that they can engage in multiple knowledge transfer programs based on the cooperation
built. In this regard, the draft Memorandum of Understanding on the proposed technical cooperation
has been prepared according to the observations of the Attorney General and the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of
Power and Energy to enter into the Memorandum of Understanding above.
04. Hosting the 23rd Ministerial Council meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association
This organization, which currently consists of 23 countries, was founded in 1995. The 25th meeting of
the senior officials committee of this association is scheduled to be held on the 09.10.2023. and
10.10.2023 and the 23rd ministerial council meeting is scheduled to be held on the 11.10.2023 in
Colombo. In this Ministerial Council meeting, Sri Lanka will take over the chairmanship of the
organization for the period from 2023 to 2025, and "Strengthening the Regional Foundation,
Empowering the Indian Ocean Identity" will be the theme for this period. These facts presented by the
Minister of Foreign Affairs were taken into consideration by the Cabinet of Ministers.
05. Ensuring continuous supply of Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) from January 2024 – Litro Gas
Lanka Limited.
The contract for the supply of 280,000 metric tons of L.P. gas to Litro Gas Lanka Company is
scheduled to expire on 31.12.2023 and bids have been invited for the supply of gas for the period
2024-2025. But the restructuring process of the company has already started and it appears that
entering into new agreements may adversely affect the restructuring process. Therefore the Cabinet of
Ministers approved proposal presented by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance,
Economic Stabilization and National Policies to take necessary measures to purchase 50% of the total
supply of the existing contract from the current supplier as a re-order as per the provisions of the
government procurement guidelines for uninterrupted supply of gas till the completion of the
restructuring process after 31.12.2023.
06. Revision of Value Added Tax Act No. 14 of 2002
The approval of the Cabinet of Ministers granted on 05.06.2023 to amend the Value Added Tax Act
No. 14 of 2002 and to abolish the simplified value added tax system with effect from 01.01.2024. The
bill prepared accordingly by the Legal Draftsman has received the clearance of Attorney General. As
such, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the president in his capacity as the
Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies to publish this bill in the
Government Gazette and to submit consequently to Parliament for Approval.
07. Submission of Gazette Notifications in Parliament for approval
Through the Government Gazette, the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National
Policies has published 3 provisions for amendment of Customs Import Duty under the Revenue
Protection Act no.19 of 1962 and 4 provisions under the Special Commodity Levy Act No. 48 of 2007
concerning the process of implementing the Government policy decisions to stabilize the market
price of essential food items and facilitate local farmers. The Cabinet of Ministers approved the
proposal presented by the president in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization
and National Policies to publish these provisions in the Government Gazette and to submit
consequently to Parliament for Approval.
08. Submission of orders under section 107 (a) of the Customs Ordinance
The Cabinet approval has been granted on 01.08.2022 to provide incentives to migrant workers to send
remittances to Sri Lanka through legal channels. Accordingly, "Passengers' Baggage (ExemptionInwards) Order No. 01 of 2023 has been published in the Government Gazette by the Minister of
Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policy in order to enforce the incentives granted by the
Ministry of Labor and Foreign Employment, under Section 107 (a) of the Customs Ordinance.
Accordingly the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the president in his capacity
as the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies to present the orders issued
in accordance with the provisions of the Customs Ordinance in the Government Gazette and to submit
consequently to Parliament for Approval.
09. Submission of the orders imposed under the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act No
11 of 2021 in parliament for approval
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the president in his capacity as the
Minister of Investment Promotion to present the following orders issued by the Minister of Investment
Promotion under the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act No 11 of 2021 in the parliament
for approval.
• Colombo Port City (development Control) regulations No. 1 of 2023 published in the
Extraordinary Gazette No. 2334 /47 dated 02.06.2023
• Colombo Port City (Authorized Person Engaged in Business) Regulations No 01 of 2023
published in the Extraordinary Gazette No. 2339 /31 dated 07.07.2023
10. Draft bill for the office for national harmony and reconciliation
Approval has been granted at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on 23.01.2023 for drafting
the bill for the office for national harmony and reconciliation. Accordingly, the clearance of the
Attorney General has been issued for the draft bill formulated by the Legal Draftsman. Therefore, the
Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal furnished by the Minister of Justice, Prison Activities and
Constitutional Reforms to publish the said draft bill in the government gazette notification and
subsequently forward it to the Parliament for its concurrence.
11. Import of eggs required for supplying eggs to a fair price for the consumers.
The approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted previously to import eggs by the State Trading
(Misc) Corporation and release them to the local market with the objective of stabilizing the prices of
eggs in the local market. Accordingly, quotations have been called from 03 Indian companies
recommended by the Department of Animal Products and Health. The Cabinet of Ministers granted
approval for the resolution furnished by the Hon. President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance,
Economic Stabilization and National Policies to procure 92.1 million eggs for a period of 03 months
ahead through the State Trading (Misc) Corporation considering the recommendation made by the
standing procurement committee appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers based on those price
specifications.
12. Procurement to implement a public - private partnership project to engage / run electric buses
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 27.02.2023 for the
procurement of 50 electric buses as a public – private partnership project in order to engage them in
transportation for Sri Lanka Transport Board covering the Western province. However, it has been
recognized that increasing the number of electric bus engaged in the transportation under this project
around 200 will be much appropriate to enable rendering general transport facilities to more routes
through the said buses ensuring expected benefits from the said project. Accordingly, the Cabinet of
Ministers approved the proposal submitted by the Minister of Transport and Highways to increase
number of buses procured under the proposed project up to 200.
13. Simplifying the VISA methodology carried out at present by the Department of Immigration and
Emigration.
According to the Immigration and Emigration Act No. 20 of 1948 and the regulations issued thereby
under that, the Department of Immigration and Emigration issue three (03) categories of VISA namely
visit visa, resident visa and transit visa. Considering the complexity in the visa issued under the two
(02) categories of visa namely, visit visa and resident visa, actions have been taken to review the visa
methodology implemented in this country by considering the visa methodologies implemented in the
countries that arrest more foreigner attraction. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the
proposal furnished by the Minister of Public Security in order to further simplify the visa
methodologies implemented at present.
14. Obtaining the approval of the Parliament for the orders published under the Forest
Conservation Ordinance No. 16 of 1907 (Authority 451)
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Wildlife and Forest
Resources Conservation to submit the export orders for timber, wild vegetation seeds and other forest
products No. 01 of 2023 published by the extraordinary gazette No. 2346/02 dated 21.08.2023
imposed under (Authority 451) under the Forest Conservation Act No. 16 of 1907 to the Parliament
for its concurrence.
15. Draft bill of Anti -Terrorism Act.
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their discussion held on 27.02.2023 to publish the
draft bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman that is to be introduced as the anti – terrorism act
substituting the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act No. 48 of 1979 effective at
present. It has been decided to introduce required revisions for the said draft bill considering the views
furnished by many parties interested in some clauses mentioned in the said draft bill. Accordingly, the
Cabinet of Ministers agreed with the resolution furnished by the Minister of Justice, Prison Activities
and Constitutional Reforms to instruct the Legal Draftsman for the re – preparation of the anti –
terrorism act including the revisions recognized as above for the draft bill already sketched.
16. Returning of six artifacts belong to Kandyan kingdom (era) that had been taken to Netherlands
some two centuries back.
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers has been granted at their discussion held on 26.06.2023 for
holding negotiations to obtain six artifacts belonged to the Kandyan era abducted two centuries back
and taken to Netherlands. Accordingly, the Government of Netherlands has published their consent to
hand over the 06 artifacts to Sri Lanka in a gazette notification of their country. Accordingly, the
Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Buddha Sasana,
Religious and Cultural Affairs to sign a legal document of consent between the two parties for re –
accepting those artifacts and an agreement to retain them in Rijks museum of Netherlands until they
are delivered to this country physically.
17. Awarding the contract for the supply of Aviation Fuel for SriLankan Airlines Ltd. at the London
Heathrow Airport in United Kingdom and Changi Airport in Singapore
Limited international bidding procedure has been followed in purchasing aviation fuel for Sri Lankan
Airlines Ltd, at the London Heathrow Airport in United Kingdom and Changi Airport in Singapore,
and tree bids have been received for this purpose. Accordingly, the proposal made by the Minister of
Tourism, to award the contract for the supply of fuel for the Aero planes of the Sri Lankan Airlines Ltd
at the above Airports, to Shell Markets (Middle East) Limited, the lowest evaluated substantially
responsive bidder, as recommended by the Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee, was
approved by the Cabinet.
18. Award of Contracts of Ground Handling Service for Sri Lankan Airlines Limited
Limited international bids have been called for the selection of ground handling service providers for the
Sri Lankan Airlines Ltd. (SLA) at the Delhi and Trichy International Airport in India, Beijing
International Airport in China and at the Kuwait International Airport. Accordingly, the proposal made
by the Minister of Tourism to award the contracts respectively to the following bidders as recommended
by the Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet.
• Celebi Airport Services India Pvt. Ltd.
• Bird Airport Services (Trichy) Pvt. Ltd.
• Beijing Aviation Ground Services Company Limited
• National Aviation Services W.L.L.
In the event of any inconsistency between the English translations of this document, the Sinhala
text shall prevail.
