Decisions taken at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on(28) 29.03.2022
1.Entering into a cooperation agreement with the Ehimi State of Japan for the promotion
of employments and training opportunities in the agriculture and other sectors.
Approval was granted at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on 26.07.2021 for
taking future steps in terms of the proposal submitted by Ehimi State in regard to providing
employment opportunities for Sri Lankan technical apprentices in the employments in
agricultural, food processing and other employment sectors especially the Citrus cultivation
sector popular in that area. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the
proposal submitted by the Minister of Labour for entering into a cooperation agreement
between the State Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotion and Market Diversification
and Ehimi State of Japan with the objective of receiving relevant employment and training
opportunities for Sri Lankans with special skills.
2.Entering into agreements for research cooperation awarded to female scientists in the
developing countries under United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO)
Research projects of five (05) Sri Lankan female scientists have been selected for awarding
research grants considering them as appropriate research projects for the “Fundamental
Professional Cooperation Programme” implemented by the “Organization for Women
Scientists in Developing World” programme implemented by United Nations Education,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers
approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Education to enter into Memoranda of
Understanding between the Universities those scientists serve for obtaining the relevant grants
and the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as well as
to enter into grant agreements between those female scientists serve and the United Nations
Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
3.Granting concession entitled for the house owners affected by the water leakage of Uma
Oya Multi - purpose Development Project and granting alternative lands for the lands
acquired for the project.
All construction activities of Uma Oya multi - purpose development project are nearing
completion the end by now while it has been planned to complete awarding concessions to
those affected by the project by the next 06 months ahead. Accordingly, the Cabinet of
Ministers granted approval for the resolution furnished by the Minister of Irrigation for the
issuance of free grants under the state lands ordinance for the alternative plots of land
awarded to owners of houses devastated due to water leakage experienced related to tunnel
excavations of this multi - purpose development project, accelerate compensation for the
houses eligible for total compensation and is recommended for evacuation by the National
Building Research Organization (NBRO) as well as for providing opportunity to cultivate in
the original residential lands under precise conditions.
4.Email and collaboration policy for digital government
One of the main objectives of the Government's National Policy Framework is to create a
Smart Nation. Under this, the establishment of a citizen-centric digital government and the
establishment of a digitally empowered economy have been identified as strategies to achieve
the government's vision. Accordingly, the need has been identified to create a secure
communication platform that can increase or decrease capacity to meet current needs for use
in government offices. It is planned to implement a more comprehensive centralized control
email and a collaboration platform, especially for government use. Accordingly the Cabinet
of Ministers approved the proposal presented by H.E.the President in his capacity as the
Minister of Technology to take necessary steps to open 100,000 Email and Co-operative
platforms User Accounts for Government Institutions under this program and to expedite the
opening of 30,000 User Accounts in the first phase.
5.Awarding the procurements for Supply of Consumer Items required for Dental Care
International competitive bidding has been invited for the procurement of dental consumer
items for dental surgery and 9 bids have been submitted accordingly. The cabinet appointed
standing procurement committee recommended that the procurements be awarded to the
lowest bidders who responded positively. Accordingly the cabinet of ministers approved the
proposal presented by the Minister of Health to award these procurements in accordance with
the recommendation of the cabinet appointed standing procurement committee.
6.Submission of Orders, imposed in accordance with the provisions of the Foreign
Exchange Act NO 12 of 2017 to facilitate investments in the Port City of Colombo, to
Parliament
In accordance with the provisions of Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act No. 11
of 2021, the Colombo Port City Economic Commission is empowered to determine and grant
exemptions or incentives from the laws in force in this country including the foreign
exchange Act. The Colombo Port City Economic Commission has requested to issue the
necessary regulations and provisions in accordance with the provisions of the Foreign
Exchange Act introducing a separate mechanism to facilitate investment within the
Council’s area until the necessary rules and regulations are issued / published by the said
Commission. The request has been approved by the monetary board of the Central Bank.
Accordingly, the cabinet of ministers approved the proposal presented b the Minister of
finance to publish the relevant orders in accordance with the provisions of Section 7 (1) of the
foreign exchange Act no 12 of 2017 and to submit these orders to Parliament for approval
7.Submission of the Report 2021 under Article IV of the International Monetary Fund
Agreement to Parliament
The report on Sri Lanka issued for the year 2021 under Article 4 of the International
Monetary Fund Agreement has been published on Saturday 2022.03.25. The cabinet of
Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Finance to present this report in
the parliament .
Written by Dr. S.M.M.Nawshad