The Government has taken measures to grant free-hold ownership of lands for the plantation families, Cabinet Spokesman, Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana said. He was speaking at the weekly Cabinet media briefing held yesterday at the Government Information Department.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has granted its consent to the joint proposal forwarded by President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Facilities Development to grant free – hold deeds with immediate effect for the same lands of plantation families that are residing at present.

In order to secure free-hold land rights to the estate community, the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies submitted a proposal under the theme “Awarding land rights to the estate community” by the budget proposals of 2024.

In order to realize this objective, a programme has been planned to be implemented by the Ministry of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Facilities Development along with the New Village Development Authority for the estate zone with the assistance of non – Cabinet Ministry of State Plantation Entrepreneurship Rehabilitation.

Under the programme, 4,151 families living in the estates belonging to regional estate companies and State owned estate companies have been identified.

Submission of gazette notifications  to Parliament for approval

The Cabinet approved the proposal submitted by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies to submit to Parliament for the approval of the terms / orders / regulations, published under the following Acts and the relevant Gazette Notifications.

* Order issued under Excise (Special Provisions) Act, No.13 of 1989 published by Extraordinary Gazette No. 2364/36 dated 31.12.2023

* Order issued under Ports and Airports Development Levy Act, No. 18 of 2011 published by Extraordinary Gazette No. 2364/37 dated 31.12.2023

* Orders issued under the Finance Act No. 25 of 2003, published by Extraordinary Gazettes No. 2369/27 and No. 2374/19 dated 01.02.2024 and 06.03.2024 respectively.

* Notification issued under Finance Act No. 35 of 2018 (Luxury Tax on Motor Vehicles) published by Extraordinary Gazette No. 2368/24 dated 24.01.2024

* Regulations issued under Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka Act No. 19 of 2021 published by Extraordinary Gazette No. 2366/34 dated 12.01.2024

* Excise Notification No. 03/2023 issued under Excise Ordinance published by Extraordinary Gazette No. 2361/44 dated 08.12.2023

* Excise Notification No. 04/2023 issued under Excise Ordinance published by Extraordinary Gazette No. 2364/35 dated 31.12.2023

* Terms issued under the Casino Business (Regulation) Act No. 17 of 2010, published by Extraordinary Gazettes No. 2366/33 and No. 2369/42 dated 12.01.2024 and 02.02.2024 respectively.

Submission of rules published in gazette notification needs approval of Parliament

It is necessary to obtain the concurrence of the Parliament for the rules published in the gazette notification within the prescribed time frame mentioned in the relevant act for empowering the amendments to special commodities tax imposed when importing certain selected good categories under the Special Commodity Act No. 48 of 2007. Accordingly, the Cabinet approved the resolution submitted by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies to forward the rules published in the extraordinary gazette notifications mentioned below under the Special Commodity Act No. 48 of 2007 for the concurrence of the Parliament.

* Extraordinary gazette notification No. 2360/52 dated 30.11.2023

Cabinet approves signing of MoU between Ocean University SL and Notre Dame
University in USA

It has been proposed to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), between Ocean University of Sri Lanka and Notre Dame University in the United States of America valid for a period of 5 years from

2024-2028 for implementation of a research project on Ocean and Atmospheric Science in the Bay of Bengal. The project is expected to facilitate the development of academic, research, undergraduate and postgraduate students’ skills in other National Universities and higher education institutions including the Ocean University of Sri Lanka.

The total cost of the project is USD 62,000 out of which USD 60,000 has been agreed to be given as a grant by the Notre Dame University and Washington University in the United States of America. Following which, the Cabinet approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Education to sign the MoU between Ocean University of Sri Lanka and Notre Dame University in the United States of America for the implementation of this project.

Setting up of lab for energy efficiency testing of ACs in Sri Lanka

The South Korean government has agreed to provide support under the Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Project to establish a laboratory in Sri Lanka for testing the energy efficiency of air conditioners. The project is financed through the Korea Energy Agency and the installation of the laboratory and necessary training of human resources in this project is scheduled to be completed during the year 2024. The agreement of the Department of Foreign Resources, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Attorney General’s Department has been received for the memorandum and referrals to be signed by the Government of South Korea and the Government of Sri Lanka expressing their agreement for the implementation of the proposed project.

As such, the Cabinet approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Power and Energy to sign the MoU and referrals between the two countries so that the proposed project can be implemented.

Establishing facility for radio active based cyclotron pharmaceuticals on basis of BOO gets Cabinet nod

Approval of the Cabinet has been granted at their meeting held on 29.03.2021 to implement a cyclotron based radioactive pharmaceuticals in Sri Lanka with the loan and grants from local banks.

Accordingly, on the basis of Building, Ownership and Operating (BOO), EOI has been called and five (05) resolutions in this regard have been received. The Cabinet approved the proposal furnished by the Electricity and Power Minister to award the related contract to M/s Access International (Pvt.) Ltd that has furnished the resolution with all required technical requirements based on the recommendations of the project committee and the Cabinet appointed negotiation committee.

Permits for Black Gram imports gets Cabinet nod

Sri Lanka’s annual Black Gram requirement is Around 20,000 MT. Due to the fact that the harvest reaches the market only during a certain period, there is a shortage of Black Gram in the market during the festive season of April and December every year. Therefore, measures should be taken to prevent the shortage of Black Gram in the market during the upcoming festival season and to control the increase in the price of Black Gram.

As such, the Cabinet approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Agriculture and Plantation Industries to lift the temporary ban on the importing of Black Gram and to import 2,000 metric tons of Black Gram only through the State Trading (General) Corporation, the National Food Promotion Board and the Hadabima Authority of Sri Lanka subject to the Special Commodity Tax imposed by the Special Commodities Act No. 48 of 2007.

Cabinet nods for Sports Minister’s proposal seeking annual gazetting of Anti-Doping (Prohibited List)

According to the provisions of the Convention against Doping in Sport Act, No. 33 of 2013, the list of prohibited substances should be published in the Gazette annually.

Since it has been reported that doping is given to athletes as well as animals used in sports, a list of doping substances has also been published for horse sports and horse racing from this year.

Following which, the Cabinet approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs to submit to Parliament for approval the Anti-Doping (Prohibited List) Regulations No.09 of 2023 published under the provisions of Convention Against Doping in Sport Act No. 33 of 2013, in the Extraordinary Gazette Notification No.2373/14 dated February 27, 2024.