News
Two new factories to produce pharmaceuticals and tyres to be set up in Hambantota district – Minister
by Raja Waidyasekara
Irrigation, Internal Security, Home Affairs and Disaster Management Minister, Chamal Rajapaksa unveiled plans to start a new pharmaceuticals factory in the Hambantota district to produce medicines locally.
In addition, a new facility to produce tyres will also be established in the district. Rubber is being grown in the Katuwana, Middeniya and Sooriyawewa areas of the region. However, instead of giving a boost to the local industry, the previous government was comfortable with merely importing rubber from Malaysia, the Minister told a meeting at Tissamaharama recently.
He said the proposed diversion of the Gin ganga and Nilwala ganga is on the cards as it will help farmers in a big way to cultivate their fields during both the Maha and Yala seasons.
“We need to encourage farmers to use carbonic fertilizer as far as possible”, Minister Rajapaksa stressed.
“It was during our tenure of government that we built an airport and a sea port in Hambantota. The previous regime failed to develop these two facilities to attract more business”, he further said.
The Minister said that a commercial aircraft pilot has an income of Rs. 500,000 monthly while an executive chef of a five-star hotel such as Shangri-la earns a monthly salary of Rs.150,000. There are more such jobs the youth of Hambantota and adjoining districts can easily fit into after undergoing training.
Continuing, he noted that the government has already restricted the import of 16 non-essential consumer commodities which can be produced locally. This gives an opportunity to local farmers to earn a substantial income by cultivating these crops.
The education sector is also being reformed on par with modern trends. An educated generation should be raised to take over the country’s future, he emphasized.
There is no fear psychosis in the country after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was elected to office, the Minister added, while however cautioning that certain politicians defeated by the people are trying to fuel flames of racism.
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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Festival advance for government officers to be increased
Providing underutilized lands/properties to suitable investors for optimal utilization.
Implementation of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy
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