1. Entering into a memorandum of understanding between Sri Lanka Export Development
Board and the Import Promotion Programme of Switzerland.
It has been proposed to sign a memorandum of understanding between the Export Development
Board of Sri Lanka and the Import Promotion Programme implemented under the Swiss State
Secretariat for Economic Activities for conducting a detailed research in regard to processed food,
sustainable fish and marine food and value- added garments export production. The objective of
this proposed research / study is to expand the opportunities to gain access to our export products in
the European market. The Import Promotion Programme of Switzerland bears a sum of Switzerland
Franc 100,000 for this study.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal furnished by the Hon. President as the
Minister of Investment Promotion to sign the proposed Memorandum of Understanding.
2. Implementation of higher impact community development projects under Indian grant
Assistance.
The project for the Implementation of higher impact community development projects under Indian
grant Assistance has been implemented since the year 2005. Accordingly, memoranda of
understanding have been signed in regard to the periods 2005 – 2010, 2010 – 2015 and 2015 –
2020. Priority is given to provide infrastructure facilities in the sectors of Education, Health and
Community Development under the project. The cost of one sub – project implemented under the
project is limited to only Sri Lankan Rupees 300 million and is subject to a maximum of Sri Lankan
Rupees 5 billion of the value of the total number of projects implemented at any instance. However,
due to the economic crisis and the higher inflation rate experienced within the country, some
projects cannot be implemented within the maximum cost limit of Rupees 300 million. Therefore,
the two parties have agreed to escalate the said limit up to a limit of Rupees 600 million, and to
escalate to a maximum of Sri Lankan Rupees 10 billion of the value of the total number of projects
implemented at any instance. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution
furnished by the Hon. President as the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National
Policies to revise the memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries.
03.The project to strengthen the social integrity and peace in Sri Lanka and the project to ease
the green (Haritha) policy dialogue proposed to be financed by the grants of the European
Union.
With the objective of assisting a ‘Sri Lanka stabilized on the green policies’ and a ‘covered peaceful
society’ from 2021 to 2027, it has been agreed to furnish funds under the Multi - Annual Indicative
Programme of the European Union for Sri Lanka. Accordingly, the European Union has agreed to
provide a grant of Euro 16 million for implement “Social Integrity and peace strengthening project”
and “Project to Ease the Green (Haritha) Policy Dialogue” in Sri Lanka. Accordingly, the Cabinet
of Ministers approved the proposal submitted by the Hon. President as the Minister of Finance,
Economic Stabilization and National Policies to enter into grant agreements with the European
Union in order to obtain these grants.
4. International Water Summit – 2022 on Sustainable development, Cooperation, Partnership
and Appropriate Technology.
The Water Supply and Drainage Board has taken steps to organize the International Water Summit
– 2022 from 14.12.2022 to 16.12.2022. It is intended by conducting this summit to gather water
professionals, foreign representatives, international organizations, government officials, and
journalists, to exchange views and knowledge for research and create relationships among water
professionals as well as exchange experience and successes in the water sector in other countries.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the resolution submitted by the Minister
of Water Supply to conduct the proposed summit with the participation of relevant local and
international institutions.
5. Entering into a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Plantation
Industries and Ksapa Company, France for implementation of the capacity building project
for 6,000 small scale rubber estate owners.
It has been planned to implement ‘the project to increase the value chain of rubber products and
enhance the capacity of the small scale rubber estate owners’ to escalate the economic strength of
6,000 small scale rubber estate owners in Badalkukmbura and Medagama areas where rubber is
planted in the Monaragala district by the Ksapa Company, France guided by the Ministry of
Plantation Industries under the financial allocations of the Ministry of Economic, Financial and
Recovery, France and the Michelion Group of France. The proposed project has been approved by
the Department of National Policy Planning and it has been estimated that 726,700 Euros will be
the total cost of the project. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal
furnished by the Minister of Plantation Industries to enter into a memorandum of understanding to
implement the said project.
6. Signing the enhanced second additional protocol to “The convention on cyber - crimes
(Budapest Convention) on cooperation and electronic evidence revelation.”
Sri Lanka has signed as a stakeholder in the convention on cyber - crimes (Budapest Convention)
on cooperation and electronic evidence revelation and the Convention is in effect from 01.09.2015.
A ceremony is to be held in Strasbourg, France on 30.11.2022 for signing the second additional
protocol and the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the combined resolution furnished by the
Ministers of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms and Foreign Affairs to sign the said
protocol there.
7. Enactment of orders for payment of welfare benefits under the provisions of the Welfare Benefits Act
No. 24 of 2002
Orders for payment of welfare benefits under the provisions of the Welfare Benefits Act No. 24 of 2002
(Selection of beneficiaries) were published in the Extraordinary Gazette dated 20.10.2022. 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 table the said orders for parliamentary approval.
8. Revising the Buddhist temporalities ordinance no. 19 of 1931 and Drafting of Theravada Monk
Discourse (Registration) Act.
Although steps were taken several times before to amend the Buddhist temporalities ordinance no. 19 of
1931, the amendments could not be finalized due to the non-agreement on the ideas and proposals presented
by various parties. The relevant parties have now reached an agreement on the proposed amendments.
Further, various parties have submitted proposals to introduce an Act including provisions to enforce the
decision of the Sangha Sabha, in the event that any monk does not follow the decision reached by the Sangha
Sabha of any sect or party. It has been decided to take these suggestions into consideration and further revise
the basic bill for drafting the Theravada Monk Discourse (Registration) Act and prepare the said bill
accordingly. As such, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of
Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs to take the initiative to prepare a bill for the amendment of
the Buddhist temporalities ordinance No. 19 of 1931 and to draft bill for the revision of Theravada Monk
Discourse (Registration) Act.
9. Enactment of regulations under section 47(1) of the Antiquity Ordinance No. 9 of 1940
The Department of Archeology as well as other government agencies has the power to take legal action
against anyone who violates the Antiquity Ordinance by unlawfully damaging a site or property of
archaeological importance. Those government institutions are contributing to protect the archaeological sites
of Sri Lanka and preserve them for future generations. In order to further motivate the staff members of
those institutions for these activities, it is advisable to give some incentive from the Antique Gifts Fund. As
such the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious
and Cultural Affairs to take the necessary measures in accordance with Antiquity Ordinance No. 9 of 1940
for the enactment of provisions enabling such incentive.
10. Issuance of orders under the Foreign Exchange Act No. 12 of 2017 to enable local controlled
companies to obtain short-term foreign currency loans from foreign countries to finance payments for
the import of raw materials.
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 make orders under Section 7(1) of the
Foreign Exchange Act No. 12 of 2017 to facilitate payment by domestic controlled companies for the import
of raw materials to manufacture goods for the domestic market using foreign exchange remitted by their
parent companies or companies of the same group of companies incorporated outside Sri Lanka.
11. Extension of validity period of the order issued under Section 22 of the Foreign Exchange Act No. 12
of 2017
Taking in to account the possible negative impact on the foreign exchange market, orders have been issued
from time to time under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Act to suspend/restrict remittance of foreign
exchange out of the country in respect of certain capital transactions. The validity period of the currently
issued order will end on 29.12.2022. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal made by the
President to take necessary measures to extend the validity period of the order issued under Section No. 22
of the Foreign Exchange Act No. 12 of 2017 for another 6 months from 30.12.2022.
12. Asia- Pacific Network for Global Change Research Conducting South Asian Sub-Regional Committee
Meeting and Project Proposal Development Training Workshop
Asia- Pacific Network for Global Change Research is an intergovernmental network of 22 member
countries working towards an Asia Pacific region that can successfully address the challenges of global
change and sustainability. The main objective of the network is to conduct policy-based research and
develop regional capacity for the regional changes required for global sustainable development in the Asia
Pacific region. The Government of Sri Lanka has taken steps to host the sub-regional committee meeting of
the Asia- Pacific Network for Global Change Research and the South Asian Project Proposal Development
Workshop scheduled from 29.11.2022 to 01.12.2022 in Colombo. In this regard, the information presented
by the Minister of Environment was taken into consideration by the Cabinet of Ministers.
