Cabinet Decisions

1. Negotiations on proposed Sri Lanka- Thailand FTA

The fourth round of talks on the proposed Sri Lanka-Thailand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was held in Colombo from 27.03.2023 to 29.03.2023. The President presented the progress of the discussions to the Cabinet for approval.

Both parties have agreed to complete the negotiations and prepare the relevant agreement for signature by the first quarter of 2024, and to hold the next round of negotiations on June 27 and 28, 2023 in Colombo.

These matters presented were taken into consideration by the Cabinet of Ministers.

2. Amendments to Tea, Rubber and Coconut Estates (Control of Fragmentation) Act

The President presented a proposal in the 2023 Budget to limit land fragmentation by allowing only coconut land of one acre or less to be fragmented. The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Plantation Industries to take measures to amend the Tea, Rubber and Coconut Estate (Control of Fragmentation) Act to provide for the proposal above.

3. Awarding contract for Ground Handling Services at Sydney Int’l Airport, Australia

Bids as per limited international competitive bidding system have been called from all the licensed ground operation suppliers supplying Ground Handling Services at the Sydney International Airport of Australia at present and two bids have been received. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal furnished by the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation for awarding the relevant contract for a period of three years to Menzies Aviation (Australia) Pvt. Ltd. as per the recommendation of the Standing Procurement Committee appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers.

4. Maintaining sufficient Tug Vessel System at ports under SLPA

Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers has been granted at their meeting held on 13.06.2022 to obtain four Tug Vessels with the capacity of more than 70 tons for a period of five years on rental basis adhering to competitive bidding process.

Accordingly, international competitive bids have been invited to obtain Tug Vessels, and two bids have been received. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal furnished by the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation for awarding the contract of the procurement of four Tug Vessels for a period of five years to M/s Sri Lanka Shipping Company Limited who is the minimum bidder responded substantially as per the recommendation of the Standing Procurement Committee appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers.

5. Repairing CFM Leap-1A category aircraft engines of SriLankan Airlines

Detailed proposals have been called under a limited international competitive bidding system from qualified suppliers for maintenance services for three CFM Leap-1A category aircrafts of SriLankan Airlines and three proposals have been received.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal furnished by the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation for awarding the contract of repairing three CFM Leap-1A category aircraft of SriLankan Airlines to Lufthansa Technik AG as per the recommendation of the Standing Procurement Committee appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers.

6. Awarding contract of supplying fuel required for SriLankan Airlines aircraft at 16 airports worldwide.

International bids as per limited international bidding system have been invited for supplying fuel required for air crafts of Sri Lankan Airlines at 17 airports. Fifty - two (52) bids have been received from 12 companies for this while 49 bids have accomplished fundamental qualifications. The only bidder submitted bids for Shanghai Pudong International Airport has been rejected.

The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval as per the recommendation of the Cabinet Appointed Standing Procurement Committee, for the proposal submitted by the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation to award the relevant contract to bidders submitted the minimum prices that has been substantially responded for supplying fuel in 16 airports.

Minister of Transport, Highways and Mass Media Dr. Bandula Gunawardena and Director General of the Information Department Dinith Chinthaka Karunaratne at the Cabinet press briefing.