1. Senior Counsel Honors Conferment Bill
Cabinet approval has been granted in the Cabinet meeting held on 30.01.2023, to prepare a
bill to introduce a new law for the recognition of the high standards maintained by senior
advocates in the field of law. The Attorney General's clearance has been given for the Senior
Counsel Honors Conferment Bill prepared accordingly by the legal draftsman. As such, the
Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Justice, Prison
Affairs and Constitutional Reforms to publish the bill in the Govt. Gazette and to table
consequently in the parliament for approval.
2. Amendments to the Code of Civil Procedure (Chapter 101) (Section 205)
The approval of the Cabinet of Ministers has been granted on 10.10.2022 to publish the
Amendment Bill for the Code of Civil Procedure in the Government Gazette and to submit
the same for the Parliamentary approval. After that, the Civil Law Reform Sub-Committee
of the Ministry of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms has identified some other
amendments to be made to the bill. The Attorney General's clearance has also been received
for the final bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman including those amendments. As such, the
Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Justice, Prison
Affairs and Constitutional Reforms to publish the bill in the Govt. Gazette and to table
consequently in the parliament for approval.
3. Strengthening of Health Services in the Northern Province under Dutch financial
support
An agreement has been reached with the ING Bank N.V. of Netherlands to obtain Euro 45
million loan to finance 75% of the project cost of “Strengthening the Provision of Health
Services in the Northern Province” project. The remaining 25% will be financed as a grant by
the Invest International Public Programmes B.V. of the government of Netherlands. As of
now, the physical progress of the project is about 92%. Considering the current economic
situation in Sri Lanka, the government of Netherlands has decided to reduce the loan amount
by 10% and increase the grant to 35%. For that, an agreement should be reached with the
Invest International Public Programmes B.V.of the government of Netherlands and ING Bank
N.V. of Netherlands. Accordingly 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 enter into the agreement above.
4. Engage the dry rations stock transport ships / vessels ie, Mv. Ceylon Breeze and Mv.
Ceylon Princess belong to Sri Lanka Shipping Corporation Ltd. in service within the
years of 2023 and 2024.
Bids have been called to select either a prospective renter of ships on time rental basis or a
commercial manager in order to engage these two ships / vessels in rental service within the
period of 2023 and 2024. In par with this 09 bids have been received out of which 06 on time
rental basis and 03 on commercial management basis. The Cabinet of Ministers has granted
approval for the proposal forwarded by the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation to award
the contract of engaging these above mentioned two vessels in service to M / s Coral Energy
DMCC who is the bidder submitted the financially most attractive / promising quotation
based on the recommendations of the technical evaluation committee and the standing
procurement committee appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers
5. Extending the agreement between Ceylon Shipping Corporation and M/s Shreeji
Shipping of India to utilize light barges for transportation of coal from the mother
ship to the jetty of Lakvijaya electricity power station from the year 2023 / 24 to
2024 / 25.
The contract for utilizing light vessels (barges) for transportation of coal during the years of
2021 / 22 and 2022 / 23 from the harboured ships in Puttlam port to the jetty of Lakvijaya
coal power electricity generation station has been awarded to M / s Shreeji Shipping of India.
The resolution of the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation to extend the agreement
between Ceylon Shipping Corporation and M/s Shreeji Shipping of India to engage the light
vessels (Barges) in service to enable unloading coal without obstacle from the initiation of the
month of September of this year from another month was approved by the Cabinet of
Ministers.
6. Submission of regulations issued under the Import and Export (Control) Act No. 1
of 1969 for the approval of the Parliament.
The Import and Export (Control) Regulations No. 10 of 2023 as per the Import and Export
(Control) Act No. 1 of 1969 have been published by the gazette notification dated 14th June
2023 in order to re – establish the import licensing methodology for wheat flour through
establishment of a special trade goods levy. The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal
submitted by the Hon. President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Economic
Stabilization and National Policies to submit the said regulations to the Parliament for its
concurrence.
7. Proposed Light Railway Transit (LRT) Project sponsored by the Government of
Japan.
Concurrence of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted regarding the resolution furnished by
the Hon. President to prepare an appropriate time frame for entering into the agreement
applicable activating the discussions with the Japanese diplomatic mission in Colombo once
again so that the proposed light railway transit (LRT) project.
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In the event of any inconsistency between the Tamil and English translations of this
document, the Sinhala text shall prevail.
