News
Special Advisory Committees on Women’s Affairs to be appointed to every PS in Central Province
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by PRIYAN DE SILVA
The Central Province is the first province in the country to order that a special advisory committee should be appointed to every pradeshiya sabha coming under it to contribute effectively to the decision making process, promote the wellbeing and welfare of women living within their jurisdiction and to advise them on the tasks to be performed and strategies.
The order was made by Governor of the Central Province Lalith U. Gamage through an extraordinary gazette notification No 2325/42 of 30th March 2023.
The formation of advisory councils in Pradeshiya Sabhas was mooted to address the grievances aired by female councillors who attended the Canadian government sponsored PMI – WILL (Partnership for Municipal Innovation- Women In Local Leadership) programme which was facilitated in Sri Lanka by the Federation of Sri Lankan Local Government Authorities (FSLGA).
The main grievance of female members of local authorities was that they were not given the opportunity to participate in the decision making processes in the male dominated authorities.
Chief Executive Officer of FSLGA Hemanthie Goonasekera said that the idea of establishing a special advisory council exclusively on Women’s affairs was discussed in length before the proposal to set up the special advisory committees in respect of women’s affairs was drafted and shared with the
caucuses of female members of local government authorities in each province.
Goonasekera said that credit should be given to the Central Province caucus for taking the initiative to present it to the Provincial Commissioner of
Local Government and the Governor of the Central Province. She said that the support extended by the Provincial Commissioner of Local Government of
the Central Province H.M.M.U.B. Herath for the initiative taken was appreciated and hoped that the other Provinces would follow suit as well.
Being a member of the Advisory Committees will give women irrespective of whether they are elected members of the PS or not the opportunity to give instructions (through the committee) to the PS on the following.
1. Development of women labour in the area of authority and implementation of programmes for the betterment of women that can be utilized in social welfare.
2. Implementation of programmes to improve knowledge, attitudes and skills for women
3. Programmes and strategies to be implemented at the Pradeshiya Sabha level in order to protect women in the area of authority of the Pradeshiya Sabha and prevent abuses.
4. Introducing programmes to be implemented to uplift the economy and introducing loan schemes.
5. Giving necessary instructions and support to promote home gardening programmes including green agriculture in the area of authority.
6. Measures to be taken to create a panel of discussion for the purpose of exchanging ideas of women living in the area of authority.
7. Providing necessary assistance to improve inherent abilities and skills and to develop traditional industries and introducing the market relevant to them.
News
Cabinet nod to increase the number of new automated passenger clearance gates at the Bandaranayake International Airport to 12
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 19.05.2025 to purchase four (04) automated passenger clearance gates for Bandaranayake International Airport.
In addition, it is expected to extend the automated passenger clearance gates facility so far given only to the Sri Lankans
parallel to the e – passport issuance system to be introduced in the year 2027 also to the foreigners who travel to and from this country.
Furthermore, considering also the number of air passengers rapidly increasing with the fast – forwarding business and tourism field, the appropriateness to increase the total automated passenger clearance gates up to twelve (12) in number has been recognized.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers, approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs to initiate the procurement and installation of 12
automated passenger clearance gates altogether with the already approved four (04) and another eight (08) automated passenger clearance gates adhering to the formal procurement procedure
Based on the observations submitted by the Task Force on Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing for Terrorism, approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 18.12.2024 to amend the Trust Ordinance No. 9 of 1917 including amendments proposed by the Financial
Intelligence Unit of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
Accordingly, clearance of the Attorney General has been granted for the Trust (Amendment) Draft Bill formulated by the Legal Draftsman.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Justice and National Integration
to publish the said draft bill in the government gazette notification and thereby, submit the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
Action was taken to provide a fuel relief for the fuel consumers during the months of April, May and June of 2026 to redress by minimizing the impact caused to the day today life of the citizens of this country as well as the entire economy due to the price hike of petroleum fuel in the global market resulting from the war situation in the Middle East.
Government mediation is essential for minimizing the impact on the day to today life of citizens in this country due to that war situation not being ended further. Therefore, it has been planned to redress on the sale price for Auto Diesel and Industrial Diesel for a period of 03 months by the Government to provide relief to the public as well as to maintain the prices at a bearable level to the consumers without escalating the fuel prices in this country compared to the escalation of fuel prices
in the international market.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to
allocate provisions subject to the monthly limitations respectively as rupees 15 billion for the month of October, rupees 13.5 billion for the month of November and rupees 12.15 billion for the month of December to provide the said relief
Cabinet nod to increase the number of new automated passenger clearance gates at the Bandaranayake International Airport to 12
Draft Bill for amending the Trust Ordinance
Implementing further relief programme to Public sffected by the Middle East conflict situation
Establishment of a Spectrum Management and Monitoring System and a Quality of Service and Quality of Experience System for the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka
Appointment of a Committee for the Restitution of Sri Lankan Cultural Heritage Held Abroad
Ten-Year National Action Plan on the Social Protection Sector (2026–2035)
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