Relief on tariff for Mongolia under Asia Pacific Trade Accord (APTA)
Mongolia has been officially appointed a stakeholder of the Asia Pacific Trade Accord (APTA) in which Sri Lanka, too, has been a partner State on September 29, 2020.
Sri Lanka, therefore, has to exchange tariff reliefs mutually with Mongolia. Mongolia, too, is qualified for obtaining the relief granted by Sri Lanka under the accord to the countries such as Bangladesh and Laos that are already stakeholders. The Cabinet approved the proposal by the Trade Minister for awarding tariff concession and conducting discussions with the country for identifying tariff concessions that will be mutually agreed upon between the two parties.
Solidarity among CINEC Campus (Pvt.) Limited, Mahapola Port and Maritime Academy and Sri Lanka Ports Management and Consultation Services (SLPMCS) for planning and handing over maritime training programmes
A disciplined workforce should be available with eminent skills to use in ports and Naval sector industries to ensure the development and speedy extension of harbour and Naval sector development. The Mahapola Port and Maritime Academy under the Sri Lanka Ports Authority is engaged in realizing that objective. The Sri Lanka Ports Management and Consultation Services (SLPMCS) has been established with the contribution of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Ceylon Shipping Corporation, Colombo Dockyard PLC, Ceylon Association of Shipping Agents (CASA) and the Ceylon Shipping Lines Limited to acquire ports services and other services. CINEC Campus (Pvt.) Ltd is another establishment in operation as a maritime training institution.
It has been proposed to exchange knowledge and resources among Sri Lanka Ports Authority, the Mahapola Mahapola Port and Maritime Academy Limited and the CINEC Campus (Pvt.) Limited for realising the objectives of promoting the Naval profession, financing facilities for the trainees enrolled for courses and promoting Sri Lankan marine officers in foreign territories. Thehe Cabinet, therefore, granted their to the resolution by the Ports and Shipping Minister for entrusting power to the Sri Lanka Ports Authority for developing solidarity with the CINEC Campus (Pvt.) Limited.
Amending Acts for present day requirements
The proposals submitted to the Cabinet to amend the following acts, has been referred to the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Constitutional Affairs for recommendations. Accordingly, the Cabinet decided to advise the Legal Draftsman to prepare draft bills to amend the acts: The Immigrants and Emigrants Act (Introduction of a new act by repealing the Immigrants and Emigrants Act No. 20 of 1948 and its applicable revisions), Stamp Duty (Special Provisions) Act No. 12 of 2006 and Provincial Councils (Transfer of Stamp Duty) Act No. 13 of 2011, National Minimum Wage of Workers Act No. 3 of 2016, Community based Corrections Act No. 46 of 1999 and the Section 53 of the Penal Code (provisions applicable for imposing death penalty on minors)
Amending Financial Transactions Reporting Act No. 6 of 2006, Prevention of Money Laundering Act No.05 of 2006 and Convention on the Suppression of Terrorist Financing Act. No 25 of 2005
The Legal Review Committee and the Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering have identified short comings in the Financial Transaction Reporting Act and the Cabinet granted approval on May 5, 2010 to amend the Act as approved by the National Steering Committee on Prevention of Money Laundering and Suppression of Terrorist Financing in line with recommendations of the Financial Taskforce.
Then the drafting the amendments was commenced. Subsequently, a few amendments were identified in the mutual evaluation conducted by the Asia Pacific Group during 2014/2015, in addition to the previously identified shortcomings. The Bill by a committee comprising representatives of the relevant agencies including the Attorney General's Department, Legal Drafting Department and the Financial Intelligence Unit was reviewed in March 2017 by technical support team of the International Monetary Fund. Accordingly, the Cabinet approved the proposal by the Prime Minister in his capacity as the Finance Minister to amend the following Acts to address the issues identified and to advise a legal draftsman to prepare Bills.
Financial Transactions Reporting Act No. 6 of 2006
Prevention of Money Laundering Act No.05 of 2006
Convention on the Suppression of Terrorist Financing Act. No 25 of 2005.
Sign Language Bill
The Cabinet has approved to accept the Sign Language as a recognised one on September 8, 2010. There is a significant hearing impaired community in Sri Lanka. They will be empowered by recognising sign language as a means of communication in accessing educational needs, legal matters, health facilities, various government services, and private services. Therefore, it has been identified the need to draft a Bill designating the Sign Language as a formal means of communication. The Cabinet, therefore, approved the proposal by Prime Minister in his capacity as the Finance Minister to make the necessary provisions by an Act of Parliament for making sign language as a recognised means of communication and to advise legal draftsman to draft the Bill.
Amending Civil Procedure Code - Matrimonial Actions
The Code of Civil Procedure contains certain provisions relating to procedures of marriage cases. It has been found that some of these outdated provisions are impractical and therefore cause delays in proceedings. Taking these facts into consideration, the Cabinet approved the proposal by the Justice Minister to amend the Code of Civil Procedure to meet the present requirements.
Amending Penal Code (Statutory Rape)
Section 363 of the Penal Code makes rape a serious offence. It also provides information on the specific offences that fall under the offence. However, there is a contradiction in the law regarding statutory rape. A study by the Sri Lanka Medical Law Association has also pointed out the need of revising the provisions of the Penal Code relating to statutory rape. The Cabinet, therefore, approved the proposal by Justice Minister to instruct the legal draftsman to draft amendments to the Penal Code to suit the present circumstances.
Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems in the Small Islands
Supporting the Electricity Supply Reliability Improvement Project is implemented by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) with the funds of the Asian Development Bank. Under that project, International Competitive Bids are called to install a Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems in Nainative, Delft and Analitive islands utilizing the accessible energy resources to improve the efficiency of the Energy Network. The proposal by the Electricity Ministry to award the relevant contract to the MS/ Sinosoar- Etechwin Joint Venture in China, as recommended by the Standing Committee on Procurements appointed by the Cabinet was approved.
MoU between Commonwealth of Australia and Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on Return and Readmission of Persons
It has been proposed to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Australia and Sri Lanka, including provisions to exchange persons staying in violation of the immigration laws between two countries. The MoU guarantees a safe and systematic return to the country of residence.
The Cabinet, therefore, approved the resolution submitted by the Irrigation Minister and the National Security Minister, Home affairs and Disaster Management to enter into a MoU between the Australian Common Wealth and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on the Return and Readmission of Persons.
