News
Cycle race to celebrate the opening of Central Expressway
Text and Pic by Jude Denzil Pathiraja
The Highways Ministry with the Sri Lanka Cycling Federation and Sports Ministry has organized a cycle race to celebrate the opening of the second phase of the Central Expressway from Mirigama to Kurunegala.
“This is a great opportunity for cyclists to gain international level experience when they ride the new stretch of the expressway. The race is scheduled to start at 8.30 am from Mirigama Interchange and continue up to Yaggahapitiya Interchange to return to the starting point,” Johnston Fernando, the Highways Minister said at a press briefing held at the Ministry auditorium on Monday to announce the race.
Over 125 licensed cyclists of the Sri Lanka Cycling Federation are to compete in the race under the open Super category. There will be two more categories as the Under 19 Junior and Female. The winners of the Female category will get cash awards Rs 50,000 (First Place), Rs 30,000 (First Runner-up), Rs 25,000 (Second Runner up), and Rs 20,000 each to the third and fourth runners up. Winners of the Junior and Open Super categories get cash awards of Rs 100,000 (First Place), Rs 75,000 (First runner-up), Rs 50,000 (Second runner up) and cash awards up to the tenth best cyclist.
“When the Southern Expressway was opened the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa allocated several days for people to go and see it themselves before the expressway was commissioned for the public use. Keeping that in mind we acceded to the request to allow a cycling race on the newly constructed stretch from Kurunegala to Mirigama. The second phase of the Central Expressway is scheduled to be opened at 4 pm on Saturday (15) by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa,” the minister said.
In terms of the provisions of the Establishments Code on payment of festival advance to government officers, there’s a possibility of obtaining rupees 10,000/- as an advance for celebrating festivals of Theipongal, Ramazan, Sinhala and Hindu New Year, Wesak, Deepavali, and Christmas as well as for pilgrimages (Sri Paada pilgrimage and Hajj pilgrimage).
Provisions have been given to recover the said advance in 08 installments or if required earlier without interest. It has been proposed by the Budget 2026 to increase the said festival advance up to rupees 15,000/-.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local governments to revise the relevant provisions so that the festival advance can be increased up to rupees 15,000/- .
As per the approval given by the cabinet meeting held on 02-06-2025, action is being taken at present to offer the underutilized lands/properties of the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, the Janatha Etate Development Board, and the Elkaduwa Plantation Company which are under the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure which have been identified under stage one to suitable investors.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Plantations and Community Infrastructure to provide following lands/properties on a lease basis to the suitable investors for optimal utilization following the prescribed procurement procedure.
• underutilized lands/properties identified under stage two owned by the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, the Janatha Estate Development Board, and the Elkaduwa Plantation
Company,
• The Mawarala watte land and the Tea factory 40.48 hectares in extent, located in Matara District belonging to the Tea Shakthi Fund.
• The underutilized land of 1,541 hectares in extent of Kondachchi Estate is enjoyed by the Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation.
The drafting of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has commenced with the objective of equitable distribution of the benefits of the fisheries industry and the sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture. This policy has been updated from time to time according to current requirements. However, steps have not been taken to obtain the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers for that purpose.
According to the policy declaration of the present government, ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendor’ the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has been redrafted, updating the aforementioned policy in line with the economic and development objectives of the government.
The recommendations of the Department of National Planning have been received for the drafted policy.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Marine
Resources to implement the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy, integrating it with other relevant policies.
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Providing underutilized lands/properties to suitable investors for optimal utilization.
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