01. MoU to implement Korea’s Saemaul Undong Programme in Sri Lanka
The Saemaul Undong Programme implemented by the Republic of Korea since 1970 has helped transform the traditional agrarian economy in rural Korea into an industrialized, export-oriented economy by improving infrastructure, livelihoods, welfare and education. In 2013, the Republic of Korea established the Saemaul Foundation with the aim of spreading the Saemaul concept to other countries.
In 2015, the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Saemaul Foundation and started the Saemaul Program in Sri Lanka.
By now, the MoU has expired and it has been proposed to sign a new Memorandum of Understanding so that all provinces of Sri Lanka can be covered by the respective project.Accordingly, the Prime Minister’s proposal in his capacity as the Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government to sign a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Public Administration, Department of Issued Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government, the Department and the Foundation was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
02. Upgrading Siddha Medicine Units as Faculties of Jaffna University and Trincomalee Campus of Eastern University
On 2023.02.06, the Cabinet of Ministers tabled the proposal regarding the upgrading of the existing Siddha Medicine Units to Faculties in Jaffna University and Trincomalee Campus of the Eastern University was decided to get a report from the University Grants Commission as to whether there are sufficient academic and staff facilities for this purpose.
The Minister of Education has explained that the report of the University Grants Commission has confirmed that there are sufficient human and physical resources to convert the said Siddha Medical Units into Faculties.
Taking those facts into account, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the necessary steps to be taken for upgrading the relevant Siddha Medicine units to faculties in those universities.
03. Conversion of NIBM into a Company Limited by Guarantee
The National Institute of Business Management (NIBM) was established under the provisions of National Institute of Business Management Law No. 23 of 1976 and the National School of Business Management (NSBM) was established as a company controlled by the Institute.
The institute has now been established in the Homagama area as a modern university that offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
Currently, more than 11,500 students are studying in this institution, which has more than 50 degree courses under 5 faculties.
It has been found that if a structure similar to the structures of the leading educational institutions in the world is adopted for this institution, it will be able to carry out the operations of the institute in a more effective manner in accordance with international standards.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers Approved the Proposal presented by the Minister of Education to take necessary steps to change the registration of the institution into a company limited by guarantee in accordance with the provisions of Section 32 of the Companies Act No.07 of 2007 so that necessary changes can be made.
04. Establishment of Road Maintenance Fund
In the 2023 budget, the President proposed to establish a fund for road maintenance and provide an initial allocation of 100 million rupees for it.
The Ministry of Transport and Highways has been assigned the responsibility of preparing an appropriate system for establishing and maintaining the fund.
Taking into consideration a proposal presented by the Minister Transport and Highways, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the establishment of the proposed fund through an Act of Parliament.
05. Hosting the Fifth Session of Environment Ministers Forum and Asia Pacific Authorities
The fifth session of the Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific is planned to be held in Sri Lanka in the fourth quarter of 2023 to provide ideas and proposals on the regional environmental agenda at the Sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly scheduled to be held in Nairobi, Kenya in February 2024.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Environment to host the fifth session of the Forum.
06. Procedure related to Areca Nut (Karunka) processing industry
Proposals related to export of locally processed Areca Nut (Karunka) and import of Areca Nut (Karunka) and re-export with added value were discussed by the Cabinet of Ministers on 13.03.2023.
An official committee headed by the President’s Senior Economic Adviser was appointed to study the facts and submit a report with recommendations. The Cabinet of Ministers approved the procedure for exporting locally processed Areca Nut (Karunka) and the procedure for importing Areca Nut (Karunka) for value added re-export as recommended by the said committee.
07. Amendment of Section 6(3)(e) of the Civil Aviation Act No. 14 of 2010
It has been recognized that opening up of the aviation and navigation services sectors for public private partnership and investment in these sectors by private terms will help in the rapid development of the respective sectors and the improvement of the aviation industry as a whole.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal made by the Minister of Shipping and Aviation to advise the legal draftsman to draft bill to amend the Civil Aviation Act No. 14 of 2010 enabling to appoint one or more persons as service providers for the provision of air navigation services in order to provide space for that.
08. Obtain approval for the establishment of Quality Assurance and Accreditation Council
Decisions taken by the Cabinet of Ministers on 27.03.2023
After studying some of the amendments proposed by the Attorney General to be presented at the committee stage of the said bill and the observations and suggestions presented by the various parties, it has been recognized that it is appropriate to further amend the Higher Education (Quality Assurance and Accreditation) Bill drafted by the Legal Draftsman by including new provisions.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Education to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a new bill.
09. Incorporation of the Sri Lanka Institute of Agriculture
For the agricultural development of Sri Lanka, it is essential to implement an integrated approach in various fields such as food crops, plantation crops, export crops, animal products, flowers and ornamental plants, environment and forest conservation and farming development.
For that, it has been observed that it is appropriate to establish a structure to technically bring together agricultural professionals with high skills in the relevant subjects under various institutions.
Accordingly, the the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Agriculture to incorporate the Sri Lanka Institute of Agriculture, which currently has more than 1,000 agricultural professionals as members and to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare the bill for the same, so that the quality of service and ethics of the agricultural professionals can be widely, efficiently and effectively ensured.
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