News
EP Governor’s office curtails fuel expenses significantly
By Saman Mallwaarachchi
The Eastern Province Governor’s Office has successfully reduced its monthly fuel expenses for vehicles from Rs. 1.6–2 million to Rs. 200,000–300,000, marking a significant cost-saving initiative. This achievement was highlighted during a meeting held at the Governor’s Office in Trincomalee, chaired by Eastern Province Governor, Prof. Jayantha Lal Ratnasekera.
The discussion, which included secretaries of ministries and heads of departments from the Eastern Provincial Council, focused on measures to enhance efficiency and accountability in resource utilisation. The Governor urged institutional heads to prioritise expenditure control, particularly in managing recurrent costs, and to adopt similar cost-saving measures across their respective departments.
Governor Ratnasekera also directed officials to repair and utilise vehicles that are currently out of service and to auction the ones that cannot be repaired. He stressed the importance of maintaining official residences owned by the Provincial Council, many of which are currently in a state of disrepair.
The meeting also focused on the Clean Sri Lanka programme, with the Governor emphasising that the initiative went beyond waste removal and environmental cleanliness. He described it as a long-term programme aimed at fostering environmental, societal, and attitudinal development. Ministry and department heads were urged to raise awareness of the programme and implement it at institutional levels.
News
Establishment of an Institutional Framework to Inagurate Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority
Policy approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 08.06.2026 to establish the Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority for identification and
execution of a formal and long – lasting remedy to secure the central hills including the upper hydro catchment areas enabling them to sustain amidst extreme weather conditions
due to natural calamities and human activities as well as to be used for the sustainable development of the country.
Accordingly, a concept paper has been prepared including
institutional structure, activities, powers, active subject area as well as administrative and coordination mechanism for the proposed authority by an expert technical committee appointed by the Secretary to the President.
Based on the said concept paper, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the President to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a draft bill including legal provisions required for the establishment of Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority.
News
Introduction of Flora and Fauna (Regulation of actions of the Indigenous Community within the nominated areas) Regulations
With the objective of securing the traditional livelihood and the eco system of the indigenous community, it has been recognized the necessity of introducing a formal regulation methodology to secure their engagement in livelihood activities by being more sensitive to the existing laws.
Thereby, the Fauna and Flora (regularizing) regulations under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (Authority 469) have been prepared so that nominated activities within the prescribed area to a member of the indigenous community
who has been registered for securing the rights acquired from law or custom or usage or traditional stance to execute an act within a certain state land that is fundamental to the survival of the indigenous community permission can be granted
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Environment to publish the said regulations in the government gazette notification and thereby submit to the Parliament for its concurrence.
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M. M. D. J. Senarathne, appointed Director General of the Department of National Botanical Gardens
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Environment to appoint M. M. D. J. Senarathne, who is the senior most officer in Grade I of Sri Lanka Scientific Service se
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