01. Acting under an integrated approach for the need of water management considering it
as an emergency situation
A report dated 22.08.2023 published by the National Disaster Relief Center indicates that
due to the recent dry weather situation, around 84000 families in 70 divisional secretariat
areas belonging to 17 districts of the island have faced a shortage of drinking water. Under
this situation, the existing limited water capacities should be optimally utilized and managed
until sufficient water capacity is stored in the island's reservoir system. According to the
"National Water Resources Policy" approved by the Council of Ministers on 10.07.2023,
priority should be given to supply of drinking water. The government is also obliged to
protect other water sharers. According to the "National Water Resources Policy" approved by
the Cabinet of Ministers on 10.07.2023, priority should be given to supply of drinking water.
The government is also obliged to protect other water sharers. Accordingly the Cabinet of
Ministers approved the proposals mentioned in the cabinet memorandum presented
combined by the Hon. Prime Minister, Minister of Irrigation and Minister of Water Supply
and Estate Infrastructure Development to consider the supply of drinking water as an urgent
and priority requirement until sufficient rainfall is received and to act National Water
Resources Council proposed by the National Water Resources Policy as an emergency action
committee and take necessary measures for the same.
02. Progress of large-scale development projects by the end of the second quarter 2023
The Cabinet of Ministers took in to account the report presented by the President in his
capacity as the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies on the
progress achieved by 202 large-scale development projects implemented by line ministries by
the end of the second quarter of 2023. The Cabinet of Ministers took into consideration that
the progress of many projects was lower than expected level by the end of the second quarter
of 2023 due to the inability to use the funds related to the projects implemented on foreign
funds and the limited release of local funds until the debt restructuring process that has been
started is completed. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers decided to allocate budget
allocations for the year 2024 by prioritizing the projects that can contribute to the achievement
of the government's 2048 development goals and contribute to the current economic crisis,
among the currently ongoing projects, until foreign funds can be utilized.
03. Promotion of tertiary education through career guidance
A program has been prepared to provide students those who finish the G.C.E. (O/L) Exam
until they start the Advanced Level or students those who finish the G.C.E. (A/L) with the
opportunity to complete a curriculum covering five basic areas related to vocational
education until they start vocational education while keeping them in the school system. The
program is mainly expected to develop IT and English language which are generally
important for vocational education along with soft skills. The Cabinet of Ministers approved
the proposal presented by the Minister of Education to implement the proposed program as
a pilot project for a period of 3-4 months in 320 selected schools covering every educational
division of the island and based on the results of the pilot project to implement the project as
a national program from the year 2024.
04. Leasing the servitude right of several plots of land in Muthurajawela owned by the Sri
Lanka Land Development Corporation to Ceylon Electricity Board for Laying of
Underground Pipeline
In 1997, a portion of 69 acres of Muthurajawela land owned by the Sri Lanka Land
Development Corporation was sold to the Ceylon Electricity Board. The Yugadanavi power
plant is built in one part of this land and the Sobadanavi new power plant is currently being
built on the rest of the land. The requirements for the construction of underground cooling
pipelines and underground fuel pipelines for those fuel plants have been identified. Several
other plots of land in Muthurajawela owned by the Land Development Corporation have
been identified as suitable for that purpose. As such, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the
proposal presented by the Minister of Urban Development and Housing to transfer the
servitude ownership of the said lands to the Ceylon Electricity Board on lease basis with the
right to sub-lease.
05. Allotment of a portion of land located on D.M.Kolambage Mawatha, Kirulapone to
Warakagoda Sri Gnanaratana Social Welfare Foundation
The Chief Incumbent of the Asgiri Maha Vihara has made a request for a suitable land for
the construction of an official monastery to provide accommodation facilities for monks
traveling from remote areas for national and religious festivals held in Colombo and suburbs.
A land of 27 perches owned by the Urban Development Authority located in
D.M.Kolambage Mawatha, Kirulapana has been identified as suitable for the construction.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of
Urban Development and Housing to transfer the said land to the Warakagoda Sri
Gnanaratana Social Welfare Foundation by way of Free Grant for the construction of a monk
monastery.
06. Establishment of diplomatic relations by the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri
Lanka with the Union of Comoros and the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and
Principe
There are 54 sovereign states accepted by the United Nations in the African region. Among
these, Sri Lanka has established diplomatic relations with 46 countries and agreement to
establish diplomatic relations with 6 other countries is pending. Accordingly, the Cabinet of
Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs to establish
diplomatic relations with the Union of Comoros and the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome
and Principe.
07. Sri Lanka National Policy and Action Plan on Migration for Employment
The National Labor Migration Policy formulated in 2008 is the first policy on labor
migration in Sri Lanka. The "Sri Lanka National Policy and Action Plan on Migration for
Employment 2023-2027" has been drafted reviewing the said policy by obtaining the views
of respective Ministries, Migrant Workers and their family members, Foreign Employment
Agencies, Private sector, Civil Society Organizations, Trade Unions, Academics, Research
Institutes and Development Partners as well as International Non-Governmental
Organizations and the United Nations Agencies. Accordingly the Cabinet of Ministers
approved the Proposal presented by the Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment for the
implementation of the said policy and action plan 2023-2027 which has been prepared in
accordance with the national and international legal and policy frameworks.
08. Provisions for registration of electric tricycles
Electrically charged batteries are used to manufacture electric three wheelers and to convert
petrol or diesel powered three wheelers in to three wheelers running on electric power. It has
been recognized that the tare weight of such three-wheelers exceeds 500 kg due to this
reason. According to the interpretation of the Motor Vehicles Act, the tare weight of a motor
tricycle should not exceed 500 kg and the gross weight should not exceed 1000 kg.
Accordingly, approval of the Cabinet of Ministers has been received on 08.08.2022 to amend
the Motor Vehicle Act by removing the existing obstacle to the registration of electric threewheelers. The bill prepared accordingly by the legal draftsman has received the clearance of
the Attorney General. As such, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by
the Minister of Transport and Highways to publish the said bill in the Government Gazette
and submit for the parliamentary approval consequently.
09. Cancellation of Rent Act No. 7 of 1972 and introduction of Securing Residents Act.
Although revisions to Rent Act No. 7 of 1972 that are introduced with the objective of
defining the rights and responsibilities of the landlords and those who take houses on rent
have been introduced on several occasions, it is apparent that the expected objectives are not
catered by the act. The Consultancy Committee on Rent Act established under the Ministry
of Justice, Prison Activities and Constitutional Reforms has probed into this matter and
accordingly, it has been proposed appropriate to introduce a new law aiming at securing the
rights of both rentee and renter. Considering the said proposals, the Cabinet of Ministers have
granted approval for the proposal submitted by the Minister of Justice, Prison Activities and
Constitutional Reforms to instruct the Legal Draftsman to repeal the existing Rent Act No. 7
of 1972 and draft a bill named Securing Residents Act.
10. Amendments to the Export Agriculture Promotion Act No. 46 of 1992
The requirement of amending the Export Agriculture Promotion Act No. 46 of 1992 to cater
to the contemporary requirement has been identified. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers
granted approval to the proposal furnished by the Minister of Plantation Industries to instruct
the Legal Draftsman to prepare a draft bill for amending the said act.
11. Draft Bill on the Security of the Online Methods
The Attorney General has given his clearance for the draft bill on the security of online
methods drafted by the Legal Draftsman with the objective of safeguarding the general
society from the damages caused by false information publicizing and discriminating control
through the internet. As appeared in section III of the said draft bill, the following actions
have been misinterpreted in the provisions of this act;
• Communication of false statements on the incidents within Sri Lanka
• False statements causing defame
• Pave way for riots by provocation without reason
• Disturbing a religious assembly through false statements
• Communication of false statements with the sole intention of hurting religious
emotions
• Communication of false statements with the sole intention and with the sole
intention for the abomination of religious emotions
• Fraud
• Cheating by appearing some other person
• Defaming intentionally by a false statement with the objective of arousing for
violation of peace
• Circulation of false statements with the intention of causing a riot or an offense
against the Government
• Communication of statements on incidents to cause harassment.
• Child abuse
• Production of bots or modifying them for causing an offense.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Ministry of
Public Security to publish the above draft bill in the government gazette and subsequently
submit the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
12. Draft Bill of the Anti – Terrorist Act
Concurrence of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 05.09.2022 to
publish the draft bill of the Anti – Terrorist Act prepared by the Legal Draftsman in order to
introduce the Anti – Terrorist Act repealing the Prevention of Terrorism Act in the
government gazette and subsequently submit it to the Parliament and followed by that, the
said draft bill has been published in the government gazette on 22.03.2023. Thereafter, a
number of parties having concern about that (local and international) have expressed their
concern regarding certain sections of the draft bill. Accordingly, the Ministry of Justice,
Prison Activities and Constitutional Reforms have called for views and proposals formally
from those who are interested in this regard through electronic media and the Minister of
Justice, Prison Activities and Constitutional Reforms has held discussions with certain parties
himself. Whereas, considering all the views and proposals submitted, actions have been taken
to prepare a new draft bill by the Legal Draftsman by revising the original draft bill which
was published in the government gazette. Clearance of the Attorney General has been
granted to the said new draft bill. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the
resolution furnished by the Minister of Justice, Prison Activities and Constitutional Reforms
to publish the said draft bill in the government gazette and thereby submit the same to the
Parliament.
In the event of any inconsistency between the English translations of this document, the
Sinhala text shall prevail.
