Cabinet Decisions

Decisions taken at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on the 07.03.2022

01. Releasing land within Muthurajawela Industrial Zone belonging to SLLDC

A land area of 400 acres in Muthurajawela belonging to Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation(SLLDC) has been developed with pumped sand from the ocean. A number of plots of lands from this land area have been transferred to both government and private investors for projects of national importance. Emergent Cold (Pvt.) Company has requested a portion of this land for cool room facilities while the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka has informed that the establishment has accomplished the basic qualifications under Section 17 of the Sri Lanka Investment Board Act for receiving the relevant portion of land. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval for the resolution furnished by the Hon. Prime Minister as the Minister of Urban Development and Housing for awarding the said portion of land in extent of four acres and two roods which has been recognised as appropriate for the proposed project to the above Company on long lease for a period of 30 years.

02. BIMSTEC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters

The Cabinet of Ministers has previously approved for signing the BIMSTEC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers paid attention to the fact forwarded by the Minister of Foreign Affairs that necessary actions would be taken to sign the said accord by the Ministry of Justice respectively with the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) member countries at the BIMSTEC summit scheduled to be held on March 30, 2022.

03. BIMSTEC Cooperation Agreement on the establishment of the technology exchange facility

The Cabinet of Ministers has previously approved to enter into the BIMSTEC Cooperation Agreement on the establishment of the technology exchange facility.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers paid attention to the fact forwarded by the Minister of Foreign Affairs that necessary actions would be taken to sign the accord by the State Ministry of Skills Development, Vocational Education, Research and Innovations respectively with the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) member countries at the summit of The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) scheduled to be held on March 30, 2022

04. Donating wheelchairs and other aid to Ragama Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Hospital

It has been reported that approximately 1500 individuals are affected annually due to discrepancies/wounds related to spine. The Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Hospital in Ragama is the national centre for directing such patients for treatments. Patients in the hospital annually require approximately 200 wheelchairs, 350 walking aids and 100 limb substitute sets.

A global humanitarian aid institution in the United States of America, Latter - Day Saint Charities (LDSC) has agreed to grant rupees 43.70 million for the supply training to the staff of the hospital along with 564 wheelchairs, 370 walking aids and 410 limb substitute sets.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal submitted by the Minister of Health for signing an agreement with the relevant donor agency to receive the said donation.

05. Land for new Police Station at Nooriya

The Nooriya Police Station has been identified to be established in No. 110, Dodawatte Grama Niladhari Division in the Divisional Secretariat Division of Deraniyagala in the Kegalle District.

The establishment of the said new Police Station would enable supplying efficient Police services as well as minimize crimes and corruption taking place in the area to ensure safety. The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal furnished by the Minister of Public Security to acquire two acres from Nooriyawatte land belong to Public Estate Development Board which is under the Ministry of Agriculture for the establishment of the said Police Station.

06. Independent consultant for SPMC-Lotus Pharma project

Establishment of SPMC - Lotus Pharma project of the State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation(SPMC) has been approved by the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers at the meeting held on March 8, 2021.

It was approved at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on October 25, 2021 to follow the international competitive bidding methodology for selecting a consultant/Consultancy Agency for implementing the above-mentioned project.

International competitive bids have been invited following that decision and the standing procurement committee appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers has recommended awarding the relevant procurement to Meridian Engineers and Consultancy Services in India that has accomplished the substantial responsive bidding. Accordingly, approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted for the resolution furnished by the Minister of Health to appoint the said entity as the Consultant for the proposed project.

07. Post Office Security Fund Ordinance

The Post Office Security Fund has been established under Post Office Security Fund Ordinance No 1 of 1931. Cabinet approval has been granted to amend the Ordinance to enable the Fund to provide an effective service to all members of the Postal Department, but the relevant bill has not been completed yet.

Therefore, the cabinet of ministers approved the proposal made by the Minister of Mass Media and Information to draft the said Bill with provisions to suit the present requirements.

08. Amendments to Code of Civil Procedures (Chapter 101) (Repeal of Chapter XLIII)

A Sub-Committee of drafting bills on Matrimonial Matters has been set up as one of the Sub-Committees of Special Unit for extensive reform of the law with Cabinet approval.

A Bill has been drafted by the committee including the basic provisions on divorce, grounds for Separation and annulment of Marriage, the procedure for matrimonial causes is contained in Chapter XLIII of the Code of Civil Procedure and will not be required once the proposed Matrimonial Matters Act comes into force. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal made by the Minister of Justice to repeal that chapter XLIII of the Code of Civil Procedure and to advice the legal draftsman to prepare a Bill to that effect.

09. Investigations on complaints regarding missing persons

The Office on Missing Persons has been established in accordance with the provisions of Act No. 14 of 2016. Regional offices has been established in Matara, Mannar, Jaffna, Batticaloa and Kilinochchi and have received 14,988 complaints on missing persons. The office has to play a big role, including issuing reports to relatives of missing persons after conducting formal investigations in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Accordingly, the proposal made by

the Minister of Justice to appoint 25 Boards of Inquiry to expedite the investigation of these complaints and to implement an expeditious programme.

10. Approval to submit Regulations published in Gazette to Parliament

Four Special Commodity Orders bearing No. 48 of 2007 have been issued to implement Government policy decisions aimed at providing relief to consumers and protecting local farmers by maintaining a stable market price of essential food items. Also, an order has been issued by the Minister of Finance under the Revenue protection Ordinance No.19 of 1962

to revise the Customs import duty on certain selected goods and to establish the National Subdivision Integrated Customs Code. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal made by the Minister of Finance to submit the said Order and Ordinance to Parliament for approval.

11. Equipment for National Plant Quarantine Service under Japanese assistance scheme

International marketing of disease free and pest free plants and plant productions is essential for the development of the agricultural sector and related trade sectors. The National Plant Quarantine Service has been established to facilitate such trade.

The Government of Japan has agreed to provide a grant of 500 million Japanese Yen (approximately Rs. 880 million) for the Plant Quarantine Service through the Non-Project Grants Assistance Scheme under the Economic and Social Development Program for the financial year 2022/2023. Accordingly the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Finance to sign the relevant exchange sheets,

12. Incentives for promotion of emigrant remittances

The Foreign Employment Sector, a major source of foreign exchange for Sri Lanka, remits approximately US$ 7-8 billion annually to Sri Lanka.

The foreign exchange earned by migrant workers should be appreciated and more economic benefits should be given to their family members and dependents to encourage the remittances into the country during the coming New Year.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Labour to increase the current incentive allowance of Rs.10 per dollar to Rs.38 per dollar.

13. Implementation of incentive scheme based on export progress

An Exporters' Incentive Scheme is designed to ease the difficulties faced by exporters such as high inflation, severe foreign exchange deficit, restrictions on imports of raw materials and high operating costs, and to increase the progress in export performance achieved during the last year. Implementation of the proposed incentive scheme is expected to generate additional revenue of US$ 5500 million in 2022 over export earnings in 2021. The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Trade to pay an incentive of Rs.30 per dollar earned on export earnings earned over the previous quarter to companies that have achieved at least 10% export progress compared to the corresponding quarter of the previous year.