Decisions taken by the Cabinet of Ministers on 14.08.2023 01. Agreement between the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka and Hambantota Oil refinery (Pvt.) Ltd. The Cabinet of Ministers has given it’s approval on 17.09.2019 to enter into an agreement betweenthe Board of Investment of Sri Lanka and Hambantota Oil refinery (Pvt.) Ltd for the constructionof a petroleum refinery with a capacity of 420000 barrels per day in the Hambantota area only forthe export market. 1200 acres of land has also been allocated on a 50-year long-term lease basis forthe implementation of the project. But the project proponent has not acquired the relevant land onlease basis and the project has not been implemented till now. The project proponent has beeninformed several times in writing regarding the implementation of the project, but he has notresponded. The project proponent has not acted according to the provisions of the agreement reachedbetween the two parties. For this reason, the Cabinet of Ministers approved proposal presented bythe Hon. President in his capacity as the Minister of Investment Promotion to cancel the saidagreement for this reason. 02. Construction of power line on 33 kilowatt double circuit zebra towers from Kelawarapitiyagrid substation to Nugape Junction The cabinet of Ministers has given approval on 19.12.2022 to authorize the minister ofEnvironment to issue an gazette notification amending the existing extraordinary gazette notificationNo. 1466/26 dated 13.10.2006 to declare the construction of a power line on 33 kilowatt doublecircuit zebra towers from the Kelawarapitiya grid substation to the Nugape junction along theMudianse Canal in the Muthurajawela Environmental Protection Area, as a authorized activity. TheCentral Environment Authority has informed the Electricity Board that instead of constructing thepower line along the Mudiyanse canal, it may grant the necessary approval for the construction alongthe boundary of the environmental protection area. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approvedthe proposal made by the Minister of Power and Energy to authorize the Minister of Environmentto amend the Extraordinary Gazette Notification 1466/26 dated 13.102006 and to issue a newGazette Notification through the Central Environment Authority, declaring the work as a permittedactivity so that the power line can be constructed along the proposed alternative route. 03. Integrated Strategic Communication Program to promote Sri Lanka's national ambitions andinternational image It has been recognized the need to implement a strategic communication program in order toconsciously manage a correct foreign policy by strengthening international relations and to raise SriLanka's international image to face global and regional challenges. Accordingly the Cabinet ofMinisters approved the combined proposal presented by the Minister of Mass Media and theMinister of Foreign Affairs to implement a joint communication program jointly by the Ministry ofMass Media and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to promote Sri Lanka's national ambitions andinternational image. 04. Amendments to Code of Civil Procedure (101 Authority) (Pre-Trial Conferences) Cabinet approval has been granted on 27.09.2021 to amend the Code of Civil Procedure so as to takeappropriate remedies for the problems and challenges that have arisen after the implementation ofthe new provisions related to pre-trial proceedings introduced by the Code of Civil Procedure(Amendment) Act No. 8 of 2017 and to speed up legal proceedings and reduce the time taken torender judgments. The respective revised bill has been prepared by the legal draftsman and theAuditor General’s clearance also has been given for the same. Accordingly the Cabinet of Ministersapproved the proposal presented by the Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and ConstitutionalReforms, to publish the said bill in the Government Gazette and to submit for the parliamentaryapproval consequently 05. Guidelines prepared under the provisions of the Office on Missing Persons Act According to the provisions of Section 11 (c) of the Office on Missing Persons (Establishment,Administration and Discharge of Functions) Act No. 14 of 2016, relevant rules and guidelinesshould be issued in advance, including the policies to be followed in relation to the implementationand performance of the powers, functions and duties of that office. The relevant guidelines havebeen prepared taking into consideration the observations and recommendations given by theAttorney General. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the guidelinespresented by the Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms to the Cabinet. 06. Enforcement of bilateral and multilateral agreements It was decided in the Cabinet meeting held on 22.05.2023 that after entering into bilateral andmultilateral agreements that are determined to be essential for national development, laws should beenacted to prevent deviation from those agreements without the consent of the relevant parties.Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Hon. President toadvice the legal draftsman to prepare a bill based on the preliminary draft prepared accordingly. 07. Establishment of the National Productivity Commission Productivity in every sector of the economy should be developed in order to ensure the median andlong – term sustainability of reformations as well as the escalation of acquisitions that isimplemented with the objective of minimizing the impact due to the existing economic crisis formaximize the benefits acquired through the reformations to the highest level.However, there is no responsible authority that reserves the legal eligibility to act formally in regardto productivity and related issues. Therefore, the establishment of the National ProductivityCommission has been recognized as an independent entity for recommending the Government ofpolicy regulations based on evidences and information that develop on researches as well as fordirecting attention on the issues related to productivity. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministersapproved the resolution furnished by the Hon. President to appoint an intellectual committee forsubmission of a report to the Cabinet of Ministers by deciding the institutional structure of theproposed National Productivity Commission, formulation of laws required for the establishment ofthe said Commission and studying on the other particulars for the establishment of the saidCommission 08. Establishment of a new Department for development of cinnamon Considering the contribution of the cinnamon crop as a minor export crop renders to earn foreignexchange earnings, the Hon. President pointed out the essentiality of promoting it as a commercialcrop as a budget proposal for the year 2023. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted theirapproval to the resolution jointly furnished by the Hon. President and the Minister of PlantationIndustries to establish a new Department named the Department of Cinnamon Development forrendering facilities for the producers, suppliers as well as the exporters for activities such asproducing and exporting cinnamon, enhancing the quality of cinnamon products, value addition,diversification of products etc. 09. Submission of regulations issued under the Import and Export (Control) Act No. 1 of 1969 forthe approval of the Parliament. Concurrence of the relevant parties have been rendered at the discussion held with them to lift theimport limitations imposed in relevant to goods that have been suspended import temporarily by theImport and Export (Control) Regulations No. 02 of 2023 that has been imposed for limiting importby sustaining the limitation of import for passenger vehicles / cars and other selected goods.Providing provisions for such, the extraordinary gazette notification No. 2341/38 dated 20.07.2023containing Import and Export (Control) regulations No. 11 of 2023 has been published. Accordingly,the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the resolution furnished by the Hon. President as theMinister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies to submit the said regulations tothe Parliament for its concurrence subject to the provisions of Import and Export (Control) Act No. 1of 1969. 10. Assigning the Government Rest House building in Kataragama built under the KataragamaPooja Bhoomi Planning Scheme to the Kiriwehera Rajamaha Temple The Government Rest House building built under the Kataragama Pooja Bhoomi Planning Schemehas been assigned to the Kiriwehera Raja Maha Viharasthan for maintenance and operation for aperiod of 5 years and after the expiry of that period, the Rest House has been handed over to theNational Physical Planning Department. The chief incumbent of Kataragama Rajamaha Viharayahas requested that the said rest Rest House building be given back to Kiriwehera RajamahaViharaya. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal made by the Minister ofUrban Development and Housing to assign the said Rest House building to the Kiriwehera RajamahaVihara subject to the settlement of the bills for the maintenance of the building, repair work, andrelated contractual services. 11. Award Contract for the supply of Aviation Fuel for Sri Lankan Airlines Limited at DohaHamad International Airport and Kuwait International Airport, Qatar. The existing contracts for the supply of aviation fuel for SriLankan Airlines Limited at Doha HamadInternational Airport and Kuwait International Airport in Qatar will expire on 31.10.2023. Bids wereinvited in accordance with government procurement guidelines from Qatar Fuel Company andKuwait Aviation Fueling Company (KAFCO), the only aviation fuel suppliers at each airport. Assuch, in accordance with the recommendation of the cabinet appointed standing procurementcommittee, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Ports,Shipping and Aviation to award the contracts for the supply of aviation fuel to Sri Lankan Airlines’aircrafts for a period of 24 months to fuel suppliers at Hamad Airport and Kuwait Airport as a directcontract. In the event of any inconsistency between the English translations of this document, theSinhala text shall prevail.