Cabinet Decisions taken at meeting held on December 15, 2025

Sri Lankan Universities entering into Memoranda of Understanding with foreign Universities

Cabinet has approved a proposal presented by the Prime Minister in her capacity as the Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Professional Education to enter into Memoranda of Understanding / Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Sri Lankan Universities and Foreign Universities as follows…

• The project agreement between the University of Peradeniya and the Alliance of National and International Science Organisations for the Belt and Road Regions (ANSO) on the conducting of the International Water Summit on Climatic Change and Environmental Pollution
• Research Collaboration Agreement and Material Transfer Agreement between the University of Peradeniya and the Chinese University of Hong Kong in China on the transmission of MRSA disease (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) in humans, animals, and the environment, and the clarification of their antimicrobial and biological resistance and their genetic diversity.
• MoU between the University of Kelaniya and the Kyoto College of Graduate Studies for Informatics (KCGI) in Japan for the achievement of objectives such as increasing educational cooperation, improving friendships through educational, professional, and cultural activities between the faculties, students, and conducting collaborative research, conferences, and workshops.
• MoU between the University of Vavuniya and the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) for the achievement of objectives, such as creating educational and research cooperation in mutually agreed fields, transferring educational information materials, transferring students and academic staff, conducting combined conferences, and providing sponsorships for workshops.
• MoU between the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and the University of Vavuniya for obtaining the services of professors as visiting lecturers on a contract basis.

Joining the Global Coalition for Social Justice

The Global Coalition for Social Justice is an international voluntary organisation that works collaboratively with governments, employee organisations, financial institutions and development banks, non-governmental organisations, and academic fields to promote social justice and a decent work environment. This organisation is implemented under the International Labour Organisation, and it is a social platform to obtain expeditious solutions for the globally existing social challenges. It has been recognised that by joining this global forum, it will be able to achieve the objectives, such as making decisions related to employer-employee issues in a comprehensive manner and taking into account modern world economic and social trends, as well as strengthening the conscientiousness of services for workers, increasing women’s participation in the workforce, ensuring the well-being of employees in the informal sector, and strengthening social protection measures such as workers’ accident insurance in the semi-government and private sectors, maternity, and unemployment insurance.

Accordingly, the Cabinet has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Labour to join the Labour Ministry for the Global Coalition for Social Justice as a partner organisation on behalf of the government and to keep the Ministry in charge of Labour as the coordination centre in Sri Lanka.

Signing of MoU between Sri Lanka Postal Department and Saudi Post Corporation

It has been proposed to issue two commemorative stamps based on the historical sites in the two countries, with the aim of marking fifty years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia by the year 2024 strengthening diplomatic relations between the two countries, and enhancing mutual goodwill between the peoples of both Nations.

Accordingly, the Cabinet has approved the proposal presented by the Health and Mass Media Minister to sign a MoU between the Sri Lanka Postal Department and the Saudi Post Corporation to issue two relevant commemorative stamps.

Providing co-hosting to conduct the ‘2026 ARDMC’ in Sri Lanka

The Asian Regional Debt Management Conference (ARDMC), hosted annually by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), provides an opportunity for debt managers from the Bank’s member countries to share experiences in the field of public debt management, discuss challenges, and strengthen regional cooperation. The ‘2026 ARDMC’ is planned to be held over a period of 4 to 5 days, consisting of surveys and technical workshops drawing attention to the debt management operations, challenges, and new approaches. The distinguished members representing the Ministry of Finance, Central Banks, debt management offices, and other relevant institutions from the member countries are scheduled to participate in this conference. Thereby, it will be able to achieve benefits such as the receipt and advancement of international prestige in the field of public debt management, strengthening bilateral and regional relationships with the Asian member countries and international financial institutions, and sharing knowledge and promoting capacity building for debt management operations through the hosting of this conference. Hence, the Cabinet has approved the proposal presented by His Excellency the President, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, for co-hosting the ‘2026 ARDMC’ in Sri Lanka at the end of May 2026.

Further implementation of LMOM-PDP

In 2016, the Lower Malwathu Oya Multi-Purpose Development Project (LMOM-PDP) was initiated with the objective of overcoming the scarcity of water, a major factor affecting rural development and agricultural production in the Lower Malwathu Oya Valley; creating a new development area in the Thanthrimale area; increasing the intensity of cultivation in the paddy lands comprising 30,690 acres under the Yodha Wewa and Akithamurruppu Wewa in the Mannar District; hydropower generation; and providing drinking water. Approval was granted for the total cost estimate of Rs. 22,900 million at the Cabinet meeting held on July 19, 2019. Even though the Department of Irrigation started the construction of the aforementioned project, the construction was terminated due to the COVID-19 epidemic and economic crisis at that time. As per the decisions of the Re-strategy and Acceleration of Large-Scale

Development Projects (RAMP), construction of the said project, which was halted in the year 2022, has been resumed at present. The current total cost estimate has been calculated as Rs. 47.18 billion based on the recommendations of the Technical Evaluation Committee. Following which, the Cabinet has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation to amend the cost estimate of the Lower Malwathu Oya Multi-Purpose Development Project to Rs. 47.18 billion and implement it under the local fund and to extend the project duration until December 31, 2030.

Processing of paddy stocks purchased by PMB into rice and releasing them to market

The Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) that purchased paddy during the last Yala season using the funds of Rs. 6,000 million allocated to the PMB in the year 2025 is currently stored in the warehouses belonging to the PMB.

Accordingly, the Cabinet has approved the joint proposal presented by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation and the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security, and Cooperative Development to take necessary steps for the said paddy stocks to be milled by the paddy mill owners registered with the Paddy Marketing Board for the year 2025 and released to the Market through the Lak Sathosa and cooperative network.

ILO Convention – Consenting on Eradicating Violence and Harassment within World of Work

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention on Eradicating Violence and Harassment in the World of Work (C 190) which was seconded at the 108th session of the International Labour Conference held in the year 2019 by the ILO is considered as the first ever international convention created on the matter. The Convention was presented to the Parliament on May 04, 2021 as per the decision of the Cabinet taken at the meeting held on March 24, 2021.

The approval and execution of the said convention leads to eradicating violence and harassment within private and informal work fields, ensuring engagement in service in secure service stations happily as well as positively affecting the increase of women’s participation in the work force.

Therefore, the Cabinet granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Labour Minister to implement the required actions for introducing the legal provisions for approval of the convention of the ILO on Eradicating Violence and Harassment in the World of Work and execution of the same.

Appointment of DG of Department of Project Management and Supervision

The post of Director General (DG) of the Department of Project Management and Supervision is vacant at present due to S. S. Mudalige who served in the post of DG of the Department of Project Management and Supervision was appointed as the Deputy Secretary to the General Treasury.

Therefore, the Cabinet granted approval to the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Policy Planning and Economic Development, and Finance Minister, to appoint S. H. V. Kumara, an officer in the special grade of Sri Lanka Planning Service serving in a post of Additional Director General to that post as early as possible.

Appointment to post of DG of Department of State Enterprises

P.A. S. Athula Kumara, served as the Director General of the Department of State Enterprises was retired from the Government service on December 03, 2025 and that post is vacant at present.

Accordingly, the Cabinet granted approval to the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Policy Planning and Economic Development and Finance Minister, to appoint B. A. T. Rodrigo, the officer in the special grade of Sri Lanka Accountants Service serving in a post of Additional Director General of the same department as soon as possible.