News

No change in amount of proposed refinery investment: Govt

Published

1 year ago

2025/01/23

The agreement between Sri Lanka and Sinopec to build an oil refinery in Hambantota had been valued at 3.7 billion US dollars, and not 4.5 billion dollars as claimed by former Minister of Power and Energy, Kanchana Wijesekera, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told a media briefing yesterday.

Herath said so in response to a journalist’s question referencing a tweet by Wijesekera from early 2024, which stated the agreement was for 4.5 billion dollars.

“The claim that the Chinese investment was 4.5 billion dollars is false. I have all the records of discussions between Sri Lanka and Sinopec, dating back to September 2023. These documents clearly indicate the agreement was for 3.7 billion dollars,” Herath said.

The Foreign Minister also assured that the refinery’s construction would not negatively impact regional security. “This is a major investment that will generate foreign revenue for Sri Lanka. Sinopec will sell refined oil to other countries and engage in bunkering operations,” he explained.

Herath said that discussions are ongoing regarding the percentage of refined oil that will be allocated to the local market. “This decision will be finalised within a month,” he added. (RK)

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Cabinet nod to accept Japanese government grant of 08 used low floorboard buses

Published

1 hour ago

2026/03/4

Priyan

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development to accept 08 used low floorboard buses offered as a grant by the Government of Japan.

News

Payment of the financial subsidy for fertilizer to farmers cultivating paddy lands for the Yala season 2026.

Published

2 hours ago

2026/03/4

Priyan

While approval has been granted at the Cabinet meeting held on 18.08.2025 to pay the financial subsidy for fertilizer to farmers cultivating paddy lands for the Maha season 2025/26, the programme is planned to be continued for the Yala season 2026 as well.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to pay a financial subsidy of Rupees 25,000/- per hectare and for a maximum of 02 hectares per farmer for paddy cultivation and to pay Rupees 15,000/- per hectare for field crops cultivated in paddy lands[maximum of 02 hectares per farmer]

News

Ministerial Committee appointed to submit recommendations on proposed program to mitigate loss of crops to wild animals

Published

2 hours ago

2026/03/4

Priyan

The rural agricultural livelihood and food security have been severely impacted due to the damage caused by wild animals such as elephants, wild boars, monkeys, toque macaque, squirrels, and peacocks roaming around human habitats and cultivated lands.

Animal-human conflicts and property destruction have mostly been reported around these areas, and serious social and economic issues have also arisen.

Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation has prepared a comprehensive program based on the opinions of all stakeholders, including the public, university community, farmers’ organizations, environmentalists, non-governmental organizations which work for environmental issues, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Agrarian Development, and other relevant organizations.

Taking into consideration the report submitted by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation, the Cabinet of Ministers has decided to appoint a ministerial committee with the participation of other relevant ministers, chaired by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation, to submit appropriate recommendations on how the aforementioned program should be implemented by further reviewing the proposals included in the said program and incorporating new proposals.