News
Govt. to begin canvassing public views on proposed new National Trade Policy in the next few weeks
Minister Gunawardane in conversation with a committee member
The government will start obtaining public comments on the proposed new National Trade Policy within the next few weeks, Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardane told the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Trade Affairs held recently at the Parliament complex.
Minister Gunawardane said that an expert committee too had been appointed to formulate the National Trade Policy. An office space had been rented in the BMICH for the expert committee to meet. Professor Sampath Amaratunga, the Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC), has been appointed as the Chairman of this Expert Committee.
The Minister informed the Committee that a Co-operative Policy too would be formulated to address the shortcomings in that sector. It would be done as soon as possible, Minister Gunawardane said.
“A Consultative Committee has pointed as there was a need to conduct a feasibility study before new Lanka Sathosa outlets are opened.” It has also pointed that corruption and irregularities are common in Lanka Sathosa and that the situation can be changed by computerising all the outlets. The committee also discussed the need for an investigation at the ministry level, to look into allegations of corruption and irregularities in the institution.
The Minister said that goods for Lanka Sathosa were now purchased through manufacturers and direct importers and that method had helped address some of the issues.
Minister Gunawardane also told the committee that they had received requests to open 57 new Sathosa outlets, and that those outlets would be established soon.
State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Members of Parliament Nalin Fernando and Rohana Dissanayake and a number of government officials were also present at the meeting.
News
Cabinet aporives recruitment of Nursing Instructors for Nursing Schools under the Ministry of Health and Mass Media on Contract Basis
There are 17 nursing schools under the Ministry of Health and Mass Media including the postgraduate primary nursing school.
There are 142 vacancies in the posts of Grade I / Special Grade Nursing Officer (Education) as on 31.03.2026 in those schools while 24 officers are to be promoted to the special grade on 31.12.2025 owing to the vacancies existing in the post of Special
Grade Nursing Officer (Education). Therefore, the number of vacancies is to be 166.
In addition, there are 24 vacancies in the post of Special Grade Nursing Officer (Education).
Although at present action has been taken to upgrade the nursing schools to nursing colleges and upgrade the nursing diploma course to nursing degree course, no action has been taken so far to carry out recruitment for the training relevant to the appointment for the post of Grade I / Special Grade Nursing Officer (Education).
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to recruit retired nursing instructors and nursing instructors who served in the nursing schools belonging to the three armed forces and are retired or have resigned legitimately from service to the post of Grade I / Special Grade Nursing Officer (Education) on contract basis.
Latest News
Signing agreement for the establishment of BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility in Sri Lanka
It has been decided to establish a BIMSTEC technology transfer facility in Sri Lanka by entering into a Host Country Agreement at the second leaders’ summit of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal
Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) held in New Delhi, India, in 2008, with the objective of enhancing regional cooperation.
The relevant cooperation agreement was signed by the member countries at the 5th BIMSTEC summit on 30-03-2022 in Colombo.
The prime objective of this technology transfer facility is to provide technology, capacity building, and management of intellectual property for the micro, small, and medium-scale
enterprises of the BIMSTEC member countries.
According to the cooperation agreement, an agreement should be entered into between Sri Lanka, as the host country, and BIMSTEC Secretariat for formalizing the legal status, privileges, and immunities of the technology transfer facility.
The drafted agreement has received the relevant institutional approval and legal clearance.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Science and Technology to sign the proposed agreement.
News
The cabinet approves agreement on mutual legal cooperation in criminal matters between the Republic of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Korea
Approval has been granted at the cabinet meeting held on 11-12-2023 to sign an agreement between the Republic of Korea and the Government of Sri Lanka regarding mutual cooperation
in criminal matters.
However, according to the aforementioned approval, the relevant agreement could not be signed between both parties.
Through this agreement, opportunities will be provided
for mutual assistance to other countries in handing over judicial documents and collecting evidence for the use of criminal case matters.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution provided by the Minister of Justice and National Integration to sign an agreement between the Republic of Korea and the Government of Sri Lanka to cooperate in criminal matters.
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