News
Consultative Committee on Plantation Industries digs into underutilized lands under plantation companies
The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Plantation Industriesdecided that the government must look at the acquisition of underutilized land owned by large-scale plantation companies.At a recent meeting of the committee, Minister of Plantation, Ramesh Pathirana stated that they had been looking into it and a proposal on this has been submitted to the cabinet for approval.
The Minister said this responding to Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa on lands owned by large-scale companies.The Minister pointed out that large-scale plantation companies are no longer planting new crops. They just maintain the existing cultivation or sell the old trees on those lands. Furthermore, the Minister said that they do not support public purposes by handing over land.
Premadasa said that his party would support the drafting of the necessary laws regarding the acquisition of these underutilized lands by the government.He also suggested that large-scale underutilized lands should be taken over by the government and given to small-scale tea planters to uplift the country’s tea industry.
Moreover, there was a discussion about the market prices of tea fertilizers and pesticides and their adequacy. Also discussed were the problems related to the plantation industry in the region.
Parliamentarians Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Isuru Dodangoda, Gunathilaka Rajapaksha, Upul Mahendra Rajapaksha, Weerasumana Weerasinghe, (Dr.) V. Radhakrishnan, Sudath Manjula,Akila Ellawala were present at the Committee meeting. (SI)
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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Introduction of Flora and Fauna (Regulation of actions of the Indigenous Community within the nominated areas) Regulations
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