The demand for obtaining higher-level services to diagnose diseases has been increasing within the public health system in Sri Lanka due to the growth of non-communicable diseases and
comprehensive services at all levels of care.

However, when obtaining reports from key equipment such as CT scanners, MRI scanners, DSA, cardiac catheterization units, and automated hematology and biochemistry analyzers, it has been observed that such patients have encountered immense difficulties due to a lack of equal opportunities for them.

Especially concerning the limited resources available for obtaining the respective reports in government hospitals, it has
been observed that there have been delays in clinical management due to such patients having to be on long waiting lists. Further, taking into consideration the financial limitations existing for purchasing such equipment and the complex procurement procedures that must be followed  for the purchase and maintenance of such equipment, the need to resort to alternative methods for obtaining such reports has been identified.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to take necessary steps to obtain such services and equipment to diagnose relevant diseases, following the prescribed
procurement procedure under the suitable public-private partnership subject to a performance-based payment scheme.

Sri Lanka has signed and ratified the United Nations Convention against Organized Crime (UNTOC) and the Palermo Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Combat Trafficking in Persons, especially against Women and Children, which is a treaty for the enforcement of its provisions.

Accordingly, the National Task Force on Trafficking in Persons was established in 2010 for the coordination of institutions that are interested and actively involved in the prevention of
trafficking in persons. The aforementioned task force has been operating in terms of the action plan prepared for a definite period, and the period of the final national strategic action plan for the period 2021-2025 has ended on 31-12-2025.

Therefore, having reviewed the progress of the aforementioned action plan. The national strategic action plan for the period 2026-2030 has been prepared with the consensus and knowledge of all relevant parties, consisting of four approaches:
protection, litigation (complaints), and partnership.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by  the President, in his capacity as the Minister
of Defense, to implement the aforementioned national strategic action plan.

The situation report issued by the Disaster Management 1000hrs today [06th January 2026] confirms that 21,514 persons belonging to 6,592 family units who were displaced due to the floods and landslides are still at 225 safety centers.

Z total of 6,037 houses were destroyed while 108,476 houses were partially damaged due to floods and landslides.