The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution presented by the President, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, to appoint Mrs. I.J. Aberathne to the post of Director General of the Department of Trade and Investment Policy with immediate effect.

Although the teaching of art subjects such as music, dance, art, and drama under aesthetic education continues in the Sri Lankan school system, it has been observed that there is a severe shortage of equipment required for this purpose in many schools. Furthermore, a situation concerning the lack of modern equipment suitable for the needs of the children has also arisen, and it has been reported that most equipment available at present is outdated and dilapidated. It has been observed that this condition has an adverse effect on the quality of the aesthetic education and overall personality development of the children.

Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution presented by the Prime Minister in her capacity as the Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education to implement a project for supplying aesthetic equipment for the promotion of aesthetic education in schools under an estimated cost of Rs. 1,215 million during the period of 2026 to 2028.

The Department of National Community Water Supply, which commenced in the year 2014, has initiated 367 new community water projects under the project ‘Community Water Abhimani (Community Water Pride)’ in the years 2019/2020 and 2021, with the primary objective of ensuring the sustainability of the various community water supply projects implemented in Sri Lanka.

Out of these projects, 175 projects that could not be completed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis still need to be implemented and finished. However, it has been identified that the Department of National Community Water Supply does not have sufficient technical staff to implement the aforementioned projects.

Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution presented by the Minister of Housing, Construction, and Water Supply to obtain technical services, such as performing the necessary feasibility studies / investigations, preparing the primary and detailed engineering plans, preparing the procurement documents, and supervising the projects from the Mahaweli Consultation Bureau during the period of 2026-2027, enabling the expeditious completion of 48 projects out of the aforementioned 175 incomplete projects, which should be carried out without any delays.