Cabinet Decisions

Releasing holders/owners of diplomatic, duty and service and official passports from obtaining Visa permits between Sri Lanka and Cambodia

It has been agreed to enter into an accord to release the holders/owners of diplomatic, duty and service and official passports from obtaining Visa permits between Sri Lanka and Cambodia. Clearance of the Attorney General and the Foreign Affairs Ministry have been granted for the draft Bill in this regard. The Cabinet approval, therefore, has been granted to the resolution by the President as the Defence Minister for signing the agreement.

Additional provisions for pensions of widows, widowers and orphans

Rs. 300,000 million will be borne by the Treasury as pension benefits for the Public Service Officers for 2021 and Rs. 35,500 million for the pensions of widows, widowers and orphans. Rs. 26,367 million of the amount are spent by June 30, 2021 and an additional Rs. 19,000 million is required. The provisions required for the pensions of widows, widowers and orphans are allocated under the special rules provisions while the powers to this is vested with the Finance Minister under the Sub-Statute (2) of Statute 150 of the Constitution. The Cabinet, therefore, took into account that measures have been taken to grant Rs. 19,000 million under the vote of the Department of Pensions through the special rules authority permit (supplementary) signed by the Finance Minister.

Updating MoU between Sri Lanka and United Kingdom in relation to Certificate of Recognition issued to Naval Officers

A sailor possessing a certificate of marine expertise should compulsorily obtain a Certificate of Recognition from the country where the vessel has been registered to serve in a marine vessel registered under a different State. The Navel Secretariat already has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with 33 countries in relation to accepting such certificates and opportunities have been opened to many Sri Lankan Marine Professionals to serve in foreign vessels. Sri Lanka has signed an MoU with the United Kingdom for such accreditation in 2007 and an agreement has been made between the two countries to sign an updated MoU revising the provisions under the accord to enable more employment opportunities for Sri Lankan marine professionals. The clearance from the Attorney General and the Foreign Affairs Ministry has been granted in this regard. The Cabinet, therefore, granted approval to the proposal by the Ports and Shipping Minister to sign the updated MoU.

Obtaining service of automatic barge service provider for carrying coal from ships to jetty of Lakvijaya Coal Electricity Plant, Norachcholei

Competitive bids have been called for selecting a service provider for supplying barge services to the jetty of the Lakvijaya Coal Electricity Plant between 2021/2022 and 2022/2023. The Cabinet, therefore, granted approval to the proposal by the Ports and Shipping Minister to award the service contract to M/s Shreeji Shipping Limited subject to the recommendation of the Standing Procurement Committee appointed by the Cabinet.

Amending EPF Act No. 15 of 1958 for entering into bilateral social protection agreement between Sri Lanka and India

Approval of the Cabinet was granted on February 27, 2018 to revise the Employees’ Provident Fund to enable signing a bilateral social protection agreement between the two countries to release the Sri Lankans serving in India from the requirement of contributing to the social protection fund in India while releasing the Indians serving in Sri Lanka from the requirement of contributing to the Employees’ Provident Fund in Sri Lanka. The Cabinet, therefore, granted approval to the proposal by the Labour Minister to publish the amended draft Bill of Employees’ Provident Fund prepared by the Legal Draftsman in the Government Gazette and thereafter to table the same in Parliament for approval.

Agrahara Insurance Scheme for Retired Public Officers

The Agrahara Insurance Scheme has provisions to provide benefits to employees who have retired from the public service after January 1, 2016 up to the age of 70 years. Cabinet approval was granted on July 22, 2020 to amend the Agrahara Insurance Scheme to provide the relevant benefits to the employees who have retired from the public service before that date.

The Cabinet, therefore, approved the proposal by Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister to further expand and implement the benefits of the Agrahara Insurance Scheme to all retirees from the public service.

Multi-stage Climate Impact Mitigation Program

Cabinet approval was granted on May 10, 2021 to implement the relevant projects in accordance with the revised scope under the Multi-Stage Climate Mitigation Programme. Therefore, negotiation have been held with the relevant parties to raise the necessary funds to implement the project under three phases at a cost of US $ 434. The Cabinet, therefore, approved the proposal by Finance Minister to enter into an agreement with the International Bank for World Bank Group Reform and Development to secure US $ 92 million for the Phase 1 of the programme.

Expression of Interest to implement renewable energy projects under private sector investments

It has been targeted to meet 70 per cent of the country's electricity demand from renewable energy sources by 2030. As hydropower development in the country has already reached a critical level, more attention is on solar and wind power. To achieve the target, the solar power capacity of 458 MW will have to be increased by another 4,800 MW and the wind power capacity of 248 MW will have to be increased by another 3500 MW.

The national grid system needs to be modernised so that the electricity generated could be transferred to the national grid. The Cabinet, therefore, approved the proposal by the Power Minister to call for proposals of Expression of Interest in print and electronic media from local and foreign investors interested in financing such projects, giving priority to identified projects over 50MW.