1. Fifth round of negotiations on the proposed Sri Lanka – Thailand Free Trade Agreement
The fifth round of negotiations on the proposed Sri Lanka – Thailand Free Trade Agreement was held
in Colombo from 26.06.2023 to 28.06.2023. In this round, the discussions regarding customs
cooperation and trade facilitation, economic cooperation as well as sanitary and phytosanitary chapters
have been completed. Accordingly the Cabinet of Ministers took into account the information on the
progress of the fifth round of negotiations on the proposed Sri Lanka – Thailand Free Trade Agreement
presented by the Hon. President stating that it is expected to conclude the relevant negotiations by
February 2024 and to sign the agreement by March 2024 in accordance with the action plan concerning
the proposed agreement.
2. Securing funds from the World Bank for the implementation of the Social Security Project
Cabinet approval has been granted at the meeting held on 08.05.2023 for holding discussions and
negotiations with the World Bank for the implementation of a project to provide a better target income
and livelihood opportunities to poverty and vulnerable groups and to strengthen the social security
system. Thereby the World Bank has agreed to provide US D 200 million in three components namely
United States Dollars 185 million for assisting the ‘Aswesuma’ new welfare benefit payment scheme,
another United States Dollars 07 million for assisting to implement a pilot project to economically
empower the selected beneficiaries and United States Dollars 08 million for strengthening the entire
project management and social security system under the project. The Cabinet of Ministers approved
the resolution furnished by the Hon. President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Economic
Stabilization and National Policies to enter into the relevant agreement with the international
development tribunal of the World Bank Group in order to obtain the relevant loan grant.
3. Restructuring Sri Lanka Railway Department
While it has been recognized that the Department of Sri Lanka Railways required to be restructured
in order to maintain the service rendering at a precise level by minimizing issues erupted by now in
regard to administration, financial and monitoring activities of Sri Lanka Railway Department that
serves both passenger transportation and goods transportation and categorized as an A grade
government department, concurrence of all the relevant parties to the Department has been received
for the purpose. Accordingly, followed by a proposal furnished by the Minister of Transport and
Highways, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the appointment of a committee comprised
of relevant subject experts to submit appropriate proposals in regard to restructure the Department
under a more appropriate structure.
4. Signing a license agreement between Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation of Sri Lanka and the
National Radio and Television Administrationof the People’s Republic of China.
It has been proposed to sign a license agreement for exchange of television programmes between the
National Radio and Television Administration of the Peoples’ Republic of China and Sri Lanka
Rupavahini Corporation with the objective of strengthening mutual understanding, friendship and
cooperation. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal submitted by the Minister
of Mass Media for signing the license agreement prepared for the purpose between the two parties.
5. Signing a memorandum of understanding between the Government of Sri Lanka and the
Government of Australia for the cooperation of sports.
The memorandum of understanding that had been signed for a period of three years to develop the
cooperation in sport between Sri Lanka and Australia has been ended from 15.02.2020. It has been
proposed to sign a new memorandum of understanding enabling extension of the above mentioned
memorandum of understanding from another three years with the objective of exchanging information
ad programmes between athletes and sports officers in the field by identifying sports sectors that can
exhibit remarkable skills and strengthening the bilateral cooperation of the sport sector based on the
mutual benefits. Accordingly, the two parties agreed upon the draft memorandum of understanding
prepared while the clearance of the Attorney General has also been received. Hence the Cabinet of
Ministers approved the proposal furnished by the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs to sign the said
memorandum of understanding.
6. Submission of the rule issued as per the provisions of Sri Lanka Export Development Act No. 40
of 1979 for the concurrence of the Parliament.
A rule has been issued under the provisions of Sri Lanka Export Development Act No. 40 of 1979 to
increase the Cess tax which is charged during the import of clinker which is a raw / interim material
required for the production of cement and totally manufactured and marketable cement, in order to
increase the state revenue earned from the import of cement and related products while providing
facilities to local manufacturers. The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the
Hon. President in his capacity as the Minister of Investment Promotion to furnish the said rule already
published in the Government extraordinary gazette notification No. 2336 / 71 dated 16.06.2023 to the
Parliament for its concurrence.
In the event of any inconsistency between the English translations of this document, the
Sinhala text shall prevail.
