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MoU between Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and UNITAR
It has been proposed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), for the period of 3 years, enabling the provision of a collaborative working framework that the parties can develop and implement the activities to facilitate mutual benefits by utilising existing resources. Under this MoU, it is expected to provide the Training and Learning assistance, Training of Diplomats, minimization of disasters and Crisis Management, and utilization of Geo-information Technology relevant to the implementation of the 2030 agenda, especially for Sustainable Development. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, to sign the proposed aforesaid MoU.
Capital Grants based on Performance, to Local Government projects
The Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Governments (LG) has executed a programme to measure the performance of all LG authorities in order to introduce a formal programme to minimise the cost to the General Treasury, by strengthening the self-income generation sources within LG institutions. Under this programme, a procedure has been implemented to measure the performance in the years 2022 and 2023, covering the management of the LG bodies, service supply, administration methodologies and the contribution rendered to achieve sustainable development goals. Especially, at this performance evaluation, it has been observed that the quality and quantity of the services rendered by the Pradeshiya Sabhas (PS) fluctuates owing to the differences of the areas. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the Resolution submitted by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Governments to execute a Project to provide Capital Grants for implementing income generation projects in selected PSs for the years 2025-2027, as a median sustainable programme related to strengths and weaknesses recognized during the said evaluation, and to provide Capital Grants for the execution of that project, by identifying 6 PSs from each Province, totalling 54 PSs, for the year 2025.
Orders issued under Special Commodity Levy Act No. 48 of 2007 for Parliamentary approval
The proposal presented by the President, as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, to submit the following Orders published under the Special Commodity Levy Act NO.48 of 2007, for Parliamentary approval, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
* The order issued under Section 2 of the Special Commodity Levy Act No. 48 of 2007 and published through the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2384/31 dated 17.05.2024
* The order issued under Section 2 and 5 of the Special Commodity Levy Act No. 48 of 2007 and published through the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2395/32 dated 31.07.2024
* The order issued under Section 2 of the Special Commodity Levy Act No. 48 of 2007 and published through the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2404/19 dated 02.10.2024
* The order issued under Section 2 and 5 of the Special Commodity Levy Act No. 48 of 2007 and published through the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2406/02 dated 14.10.2024
* The order issued under Section 2 of the Special Commodity Levy Act No. 48 of 2007 and published through the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2408/15 dated 01.11.2024
* The order issued under Section 2 of the Special Commodity Levy Act No. 48 of 2007 and published through the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2412/38 dated 30.11.2024
Convention on the Biodiversity of areas beyond the National boundaries
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Biodiversity in the areas beyond the National boundaries has been seconded on 19.06.2023, by the Summit on Ocean Biodiversity. It is the 3rd Convention implemented under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). As a result of swelling of Human activities in Developed countries, the Maritime Biodiversity has been threatened and, it poses a serious threat to the quality and resistance of the oceans. Based on better implementation of the UN Convention on Maritime Law, broad cooperation of various stakeholders for securing massive geographical areas and conservation, the requirement to enter into the said Convention was recognized.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal submitted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism to sign the Convention on Biodiversity of the areas situated beyond the National territory.
Repeal of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act No.2 of 1996
To date, the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act No.2 of 1996 has been amended 8 times and several attempts made to introduce a new Act by repealing the existing Act.
A preliminary Bill has been prepared by a committee comprising officials from the Ministry of Fisheries, the Attorney General’s Department, the Auditor General’s Department and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with technical assistance from the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, to strengthen the constitutional framework on the issues related to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing operations within Sri Lanka’s territorial waters and on the high seas.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a new Act based on the above.
Memorandum of Understanding between Sri Lanka and India for Multi-sectoral Grant
It has been proposed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Governments of Sri Lanka and India to strengthen Socio-economic Development and Bilateral Cooperation. As per the MoU, it is intended to implement a series of Development Projects in the Northern Province under a Grant of LKR 2,371.83 million provided by the Government of India. Accordingly, 33 Projects for the improvement of Infrastructure facilities and enhancement of Livelihoods have been identified, drawing special attention towards Education, Health, Agriculture, Fisheries, Tourism and Community Empowerment. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the President, as Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, to sign the proposed aforesaid MoU.
Local Government institutions to create revolving economy for solid waste management
As per the approval granted by the Cabinet of Ministers on 02.12.2024 as per the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme, the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Governments (LG) intends to implement a project to ensure the responsibility and liability of all the citizens and the LG institutions to be engaged in Waste Management, recognising the importance of community awareness as well as community participation for sustainable urban solid waste management. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution submitted by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Governments, to execute projects based in LG areas.
Appointment of an Officer as Director General of Combined Services
The present Director General of Combined Services, S. Aloka Bandara, a Special Grade Officer (SGO) in the Sri Lanka Administrative Service (SLAS), has been appointed Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Council and Local Government, rendering the post of Director General of Combined Services, which has a wide scope of duties, vacant. Hence, an Officer should be appointed to the post on a permanent basis. As such, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Council and Local Government to appoint N.U.N. Mendis, an SGO of the SLAS, currently serving as Additional Director General of the National Budget Department, to the post.
Purchase of 6 stocks crude oil tankers from 01. 04. 2025 to 31. 08. 2025
Bids were invited from registered suppliers of the Petroleum Corporation to purchase of 6 stocks of crude oil tankers of the Merburn category, within the period 01.04.2025 – 31.08.2025. Of the 6 Bids submitted, based on the recommendations of the Special Standing Procurement Committee appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution submitted by the Minister of Power to award the relevant procurement to M/s Aditya Birla Global Trading (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
