- Implementation of short term strategies for promotion of tourism industry.
Currently, many Asian tourist destinations are competing to raise their tourism market, which has fallen due to the Covid epidemic. Most of the countries are taking steps to provide visa free of charge to tourists. Therefore , several new tourism promotion programs have been planned for the promotion of the Sri Lankan tourism industry, which is slow due to the Easter Sunday attack, the Covid epidemic and the subsequent serious economic crisis. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the following steps to be taken in accordance with the joint proposals presented by the Hon. Prime Minister, Minister of Tourism and Lands, Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Public Security with the aim of increasing the number of tourists coming to Sri Lanka to 5 million in a year in the next 3 years.
- Implementation of a pilot project to issue free tourist visas to tourists from China, India, Russia, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Japan until 31.03.2024.
- Providing opportunities for easy access to world heritage and historical places for foreign tourists without traffic jams. For this purpose, issuing a single payment package ticket for all the relevant places and providing the opportunity to buy the ticket at the airport or through the online system.
- Providing the tickets required for the Sri Lanka Railways tourist coaches through the online system or providing the opportunity to purchase them at the airport as a one-time ticket.
- Implementation of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Development Finance Project
“Small and Medium Enterprise Credit Scheme Project” has been implemented by the Government to provide investment and working capital loans to small and medium-sized enterprises at concessional interest rates with the financial support of 165 million US dollars from the Asian Development Bank. Banks prioritize collateral based lending over cash flow based lending. Due to this, as a solution to the problems faced by small and medium entrepreneurs, the necessary steps have been taken to establish the National Credit Protection Institute. Banks prioritize Assets based lending over cash flow based lending. As a solution to the problems faced by small and medium entrepreneurs, the necessary steps have been taken to establish the National Credit Protection Institute. The government has planned to implement a new project called the “Small and Medium Enterprise Development Finance Project” for entrepreneurs who still find it difficult to finance their businesses. The Asian Development Bank has agreed to provide funds of USD 100 million for this purpose. As such, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Hon. President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies to obtain the said loan amount and to enter into related agreements.
- Extension of existing MoU between the Ministry of Education and Peace Corps of United States of America
The programs of ” Peace Corps ” institute supported by the US Congress have been implemented in Sri Lanka during the periods of 1962-1964, 1983-1998, 2004-2006. In 2018, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry of Education and the Peace Corps Institute. According to the agreement, the two parties have reached an agreement to implement a program to improve English language education in Sri Lanka by providing volunteers for a period of 5 years. However, due to the Easter Sunday attack and the Covid epidemic situation, Peace Corps has not been able to implement the program within the expected time as planned. Peace Corp has now agreed to implement the program again in Sri Lanka. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Education to extend the said MoU signed by the two parties for another period of 5 year from August, 2023.
- Entering into a Memorandum of Understanding between the National Archives of Sri Lanka and the National Archives of the Netherlands
The National Archives of Sri Lanka holds approximately 310 linear meters of archives created by the Dutch East India Trading Company, containing approximately 7,500 volumes. These archives has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, recognizing its importance for the study of both Asian history and world history. As per 4 joint agreements between the National Archives of Sri Lanka and the Netherlands National Archives, 1701 negative copies of 5066 volumes of microfilms were sent to the Netherlands between 2001 and 2013. The micro films made using them are now preserved by the National Archives of Sri Lanka. In order to continue this cooperation, it has been proposed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the two parties for cooperation on archives for a period of 05 years from 2024 to 2028. Accordingly the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Buddha Sasana to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the National Archives of Sri Lanka and the National Archives of the Netherlands.
- Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the International Center for Migration Policy Development and the Ministry of Labor and Foreign Employment
It is planned to establish an immigration resource center in the Eastern Province to provide adequate, timely and reliable information and guidance to reduce the risks and challenges faced by migrants, returning migrants and prospective migrants while traveling and living in foreign countries. The New Zealand government has agreed to support this task. Accordingly, the Government of New Zealand has agreed to provide a grant of 350,000 New Zealand dollars through the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment of New Zealand to implement the project proposed by the International Center for Migration Policy Development. Accordingly the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between New Zealand’s International Center for Migration Policy Development and the Ministry of Labor and Foreign Employment for establishment of the proposed Centre.
- Establishment of an independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
Ensuring the accountability, credibility, transparency and professionalism of the Members of Parliament are essential factors in enhancing public confidence in the effectiveness, transparency and fairness of the legislature. Therefore, at all times, Members of Parliament must exercise their powers, privileges and duties with fidelity and honesty. Most countries have a monitoring mechanism for the implementation of a code of conduct for members of parliament. It has been recognized the need to compile a code of conduct for parliamentarians in Sri Lanka and to establish an independent body for the supervision. Accordingly, a preliminary draft has been prepared for that purpose and the Cabinet of Ministers approved the combined proposal presented by the Hon. Prime Minister and Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms to get the views of the Hon. Speaker of the Parliament and all the party leaders on the preliminary draft, and consequently advice the Legal Draftsman to prepare a Bill taking into account the comments given.
- Amendment of the Motor Traffic Act
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 05.06.2023, to implement recommendations of the report furnished by the officials committee appointed under the heading of the Secretary to the Prime Minister to table recommendations to the Cabinet of Ministers after probing into the matters related to the implementation of e – motoring project. Appropriate amendment of the motor traffic act has been recognized for formulating interim provisions to implement the said project and for corresponding activities. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the acting Minister of Transport and Highways to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepared a draft bill in the connection.
- Amendment of Sri Lanka Transport Board Act No. 27 of 2005
Requirement to amend the Sri Lanka Transport Board Act No. 27 of 2005 has been recognized considering the need of sufficient legal provisions for taking legal actions against the offenses by passengers and other parties causing loss of revenue receivable to Sri Lanka Transport Board and new restructuring and treads applied within the passenger transport service subsequent to introduction of Sri Lanka Transport Board Act No. 27 of 2005. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Transport and Highways to instruct the Legal Draftsman to draft a bill to revise Sri Lanka Transport Board Act No. 27 of 2005.
- Amendments to Power of Attorney Ordinance
With the objective of preventing fraudulent activities performed by power of attorney holders in regard to lands, actions have been taken to revise the Power of Attorney Ordinance by the act No. 28 of 2022. Subsequent to executing the said revisions, especially in regard to the overseas power of attorneys, a number of contradictions have erupted in relation to the cancellation and nullification of the power of attorneys and the period provided for registration of a power of attorney etc, Therefore, concurrence of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their discussion held on 08.05.2023 to draft bill to further amend the Power of Attorney Ordinance. Clearance of the Attorney General has been received for the Power of Attorney bill draft according to the said approval. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Justice, Prison Activities and Constitutional Reforms to publish the said draft bill in the Government Gazette Notification and subsequently table it in the Parliament for their concurrence.
- Amendment of Shop and Office Employees (regulation of employment and remuneration) Act No. 19 of 1954 according to the timely requirement
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers has been granted at their meeting held on 08.08.2022 to amend Shop and Office Employees (regulation of employment and remuneration) Act No. 19 of 1954 to enable the female employees’ engagement in night shifts in the offices where business activities are carried out based on information technology, knowledge outsourcing establishments, establishments obtaining the business process from outside, and the offices performing accounts, administration and technical activities for business establishments overseas. Accordingly, the clearance of the Attorney General has been granted for the draft bill of Shop and Office Employees (regulation of employment and remuneration) (Amendment) Act prepared by the Legal Draftsman. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment to publish the said draft bill in the Government Gazette Notification and subsequently table it in the Parliament for their concurrence.
- Grant by the Government of Japan for upgrading the fisheries industry.
The Government of Japan has given its concurrence to grant Japanese Yen 200 million (approximately rupees 435 million) under Japanese government’s economic and social development programme with the objective of empowering the fisheries industry by developing freezer facilities and supplying with modern electric equipment to ensure higher value addition to fisheries production for uplifting life standard of fisher community in Northern and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka. It is expected to supply ice production machines, digital scales for Ceylon Fisheries Harbour Corporation, Fishing nets for the National Aquaculture Development Authority, with pre – installed freezer / deep freezer and tractors with deep freezers to the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources under this grant. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Hon. President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies to receive the said grant and enter into relevant agreements.
- Construction of a floating solar photovoltaic power plant in Samanalawewa reservoir.
It has been accepted that the generation of solar electricity on the surface of reservoirs by constructing floating solar power plants is a much appropriate remedy for countries with limited land area. Therefore, it has been identified that a higher potential is available to implement solar power generation projects on the surface of reservoirs under the Ceylon Electricity Board and Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority and it has been recognized that a floating solar power voltage plant can be constructed within approximately 100 hectares of the Samanalawewa reservoir which is under the purview of Ceylon Electricity Board to construct a floating solar photovoltaic power plant with a capacity of around 150 – 200 megawatt. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal submitted by the Minister of Electricity and Power to call resolutions for the construction and execution of the proposed solar power plants from project proposals from those who are interested in following the national procurement guidelines applicable to the implementation of infrastructure facility projects.
In the event of any inconsistency between the English translations of this document, the Sinhala text shall prevail.
