News
Govt. to appoint retired military officer to oversee mining sites
Mysterious disappearance of explosives from Mawanella quarry
By Ifham Nizam
A high ranking retired army officer is to be appointed to oversee all granite quarries handling explosives as the government has commenced an investigation into the incident of damaging a Buddha statue in Mawanella and the disappearance of explosives in a mine in that area.
State Minister Kanaka Herath said that a formal investigation into the incident was already underway and legal action would be taken against those responsible soon.
Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has decided to appoint a high ranking retired Army officer to oversee all quarries handling explosives following the disappearance of a stock of explosives from a granite quarry in Mawanella.
Amaraweera said: “This incident is a cause for concern. That is why I decided to appoint the committee. This officer will also look at illegal activities that are taking place in quarries. He will also look into the harm caused to the environment as well as to the people living around quarries”.
The army officer would be attached to the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, the minister said. “The usual practice is that following the issuance of a permit by the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau for the quarrying of rock, a report is submitted to the Ministry of Defence to obtain the explosives.”
He said that there had always been concerns that quarry owners obtained more explosives than needed. “Sometimes, we wonder if such a large quantity of granite can be excavated daily. With the disappearance of the explosives from a quarry in Mawanella, we need to figure out if these explosives have found their way into the wrong hands.”
The Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development has recommended the establishment of Sri Lankan Standards, i.e. the import testing methodology for imported tires used for passenger cars and pneumatic tires for three-wheelers with the aim of ensuring a fair competitive environment for local
manufactures and ensuring consumer safety and security.
Taking into the said recommendations, “Import and Export (control regulations N0.08 of the 2026)” has been enacted to amend the existing regulations by means of the Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 2508/27 dated 2026-10-01, prescribing Sri Lanka standard 1212 for the import of passenger types (HS Code 4011.10.90) and Sri Lanka standard 1347 for the import of
pneumatic tires for three – wheeled vehicles (HS Code 4011.90.10).
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development to submit the aforementioned regulations to Parliament for approval.
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 02.06.2025 to introduce a new act to promote and providing legal provisions for facilitating the Public Private Joint Enterprises within Sri Lanka as well as the establishment of the National Agency for Public Private Partnership Joint Enterprises.
Accordingly, the Legal Draftsman has formulated the relevant draft bill and the Attorney General has given his clearance to the said draft bill.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to publish the said
draft bill in the government gazette notification and thereby submit it to the Parliament for its concurrence.
Regulation, development and control of indigenous medical sector in Sri Lanka comprised of Ayurvedha, Sidhdha, Unani, Local Therapies are carried out under the provisions of Ayurvedha Act No. 31 of 1961.
Although amendments were made to the act from time to time as per the requirements, the necessity of further amending the Ayurvedha Act has been identified to enable efficiently maintaining all activities of local medical field productively, further formalizing the regulation of the sector, taking actions to providing licenses applicable to export of local medicines, and achieving the progress and sustainable development goals in the local medical sector.
Based on the said factors, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to direct the Legal Draftsman to formulate a draft bill to amend the Ayurvedha Act No. 31 of 1961.
Import and Export (Control) Regulations No. 08 of 2026
Draft Bill of the Public Private Partnership Enterprises Act to be gazzetted
Amendment of the Ayurvedha Act No. 31 of 1961
Cabinet nod to amend the Sri Lanka Development Administration Institute Act No. 9 of 1982
Establishment of the National Higher Performance Centre
State patronage for the cremation ceremony of the late deputy prelate (Anu Nayaka Thero) of the Sri Laka Ramangya Maha Nikaya, Gatambe Rajopawanramadhipatha, Siri Chandawimala Wanshalankara, Chandrakeerthi Sri Amarawansha, Sadhdharmawageeshwara, Shasanashobhanna Most Venerable Keppetiyagoda Siriwimalabhidhana Thero
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