News
Ambassador Chung announces new USDA Food Aid
Ambassador Julie Chung announced yesterday the recent arrival of 770 metric tons (MT) of fortified rice and 100 MT of fortified vegetable oil through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) “McGovern-Dole Food for Education Program.” Since 2021, USDA food aid has provided protein supplements using yellow split peas and Alaskan pink salmon to over 95,000 children in 835 primary schools distributed over seven districts (Nuwaraeliya, Badulla, Monaragala, Rathnapura, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, and Trincomalee). Ambassador Chung made the announcement during a visit to the Guruaragama Primary School to observe a school feeding programme supported by the United States government assistance. The U.S. also supported construction of new latrines at the school. Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha, Governor of Sabaragamuwa Province Tikiri Kobbakaduwa, and USDA/FAS Senior Regional Agricultural Attaché Mariano J. Beillard joined Ambassador Chung.
In partnership with Save The Children and alongside the Sri Lankan government and local communities, USDA/FAS is implementing the Promoting Autonomy, Literacy, and Attentiveness through Market Alliances (PALAM/A) project in Sri Lanka. This US $27.5 million initiative began providing food shipments at the height of the pandemic and will be completed this year. The project, which includes monitoring and oversight provisions, improves literacy and nutrition while reducing short-term hunger of school-age children. More broadly, the United States government has provided food assistance to nearly two million Sri Lankan school children over the past year.
Ambassador Chung met teachers and parents as well as school children. As she toured the school’s classrooms, Ambassador Chung said, “I am honored to join Minister Premajayantha and to see first-hand how Sri Lanka’s school feeding program is benefiting children’s nutrition and education, and to witness the positive impact of the United States government’s assistance in this vital effort. This is the second school I’ve visited in a week that is receiving food assistance from the United States – last week I was at St. John’s Maha Vidyalaya in Colombo North where USAID is working with the World Food Program to support a US $7 million school feeding program. The U.S. has worked alongside the people of Sri Lanka for 75 years in a strong, enduring, and successful partnership, and these children eating a healthy morning meal – through food assistance provided by American citizens – really demonstrates how partners support each other in difficult times.”
This year marks the 75th anniversary of U.S. – Sri Lankan diplomatic relations, a rich history defined by our people-to-people relationships, the progress we have achieved together, and the close partnership that will assist Sri Lankans to build a brighter future.
News
Cabinet nod to increase the number of new automated passenger clearance gates at the Bandaranayake International Airport to 12
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 19.05.2025 to purchase four (04) automated passenger clearance gates for Bandaranayake International Airport.
In addition, it is expected to extend the automated passenger clearance gates facility so far given only to the Sri Lankans
parallel to the e – passport issuance system to be introduced in the year 2027 also to the foreigners who travel to and from this country.
Furthermore, considering also the number of air passengers rapidly increasing with the fast – forwarding business and tourism field, the appropriateness to increase the total automated passenger clearance gates up to twelve (12) in number has been recognized.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers, approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs to initiate the procurement and installation of 12
automated passenger clearance gates altogether with the already approved four (04) and another eight (08) automated passenger clearance gates adhering to the formal procurement procedure
Based on the observations submitted by the Task Force on Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing for Terrorism, approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 18.12.2024 to amend the Trust Ordinance No. 9 of 1917 including amendments proposed by the Financial
Intelligence Unit of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
Accordingly, clearance of the Attorney General has been granted for the Trust (Amendment) Draft Bill formulated by the Legal Draftsman.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Justice and National Integration
to publish the said draft bill in the government gazette notification and thereby, submit the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
Action was taken to provide a fuel relief for the fuel consumers during the months of April, May and June of 2026 to redress by minimizing the impact caused to the day today life of the citizens of this country as well as the entire economy due to the price hike of petroleum fuel in the global market resulting from the war situation in the Middle East.
Government mediation is essential for minimizing the impact on the day to today life of citizens in this country due to that war situation not being ended further. Therefore, it has been planned to redress on the sale price for Auto Diesel and Industrial Diesel for a period of 03 months by the Government to provide relief to the public as well as to maintain the prices at a bearable level to the consumers without escalating the fuel prices in this country compared to the escalation of fuel prices
in the international market.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to
allocate provisions subject to the monthly limitations respectively as rupees 15 billion for the month of October, rupees 13.5 billion for the month of November and rupees 12.15 billion for the month of December to provide the said relief
Cabinet nod to increase the number of new automated passenger clearance gates at the Bandaranayake International Airport to 12
Draft Bill for amending the Trust Ordinance
Implementing further relief programme to Public sffected by the Middle East conflict situation
Establishment of a Spectrum Management and Monitoring System and a Quality of Service and Quality of Experience System for the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka
Appointment of a Committee for the Restitution of Sri Lankan Cultural Heritage Held Abroad
Ten-Year National Action Plan on the Social Protection Sector (2026–2035)
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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