News
Emergency food supplies: Japan spent USD 10 mn since June last year
The Japanese Embassy in Colombo yesterday (10) said that since June last year, two million Lankans had benefited from a WFP programme funded by Japan. The announcement was made after Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Komura Masahiro attended the handing over of emergency food assistance and nutrition support at the President’s Office.
Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga, Senior Advisor to the President on Economic Affairs, and Abdur Rahim Siddiqui, Representative and Country Director of WFP Sri Lanka, were present on the occasion.
The Parliamentary Vice-Minister handed over packs of food and nutrition including over 7,200 MT of rice, lentils, vegetable oil, maize and soya beans procured by WFP through USD 6.5 million provided by the Japanese Government’s supplementary budget, the Embassy stated.
With Japan’s total contribution of over USD 10 million since the commencement of WFP’s emergency operation in June 2022, to date, nearly two million beneficiaries, including school children and pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, who have been affected by the severe economic crisis, have benefited from this humanitarian assistance.
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development to award the contract for printing and supplying vehicle number plates for the Department of Motor Traffic for a period of five (5) years to M/s South Asian Technologies based on the recommendations of the High-Level Standing Procurement Committee and the Procurement Appeal Board.
The National Lotteries board has been established subject to the Finance Act No. 11 of 1963. Having identified the requirement of amending that act which was imposed around 62 years to cater the current requirements of the lottery market, the Cabinet of Mnisters at their meeting held on 14.02.2017 granted approval to draft a new bill for the purpose.
Accordingly, the National Lotteries Board has recognized further amendments to be performed to the fundamental draft bill prepared by the Legal Draftsmen.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the
resolution furnished by the President in his office as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to direct the Legal Draftsmen to finalize the formulation of the draft bill for the National Lotteries Board as soon as possible including the proposed new amendments as well.
The Werahara office of the Department of Motor Traffic performs issuance of temporary driving licenses in this country based on the driving licenses issued overseas, and measures have been initiated to render the service from a service window of the Department of Motor Traffic established at the Bandaranayake International Airport from 03.08.2025.
The fees charged for issuing temporary driving licenses have been published in Motor Vehicles (Driving License Levy) Regulations No. 3 of 2022 prepared under the provisions of the Motor Traffic (Authority 203) Act.
But, as the fee of Rupees 2,000/- charged for the service is not sufficient, the requirement of amending the regulations has been recognized.
The regulations for introducing the revised fees have been published in the government extraordinary gazette
notification No. 2463/04 dated 17.11.2025. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development to
submit the regulations to the Parliament for its concurrence.
Selfies and smiles: South Korea seeks ‘new phase’ in ties with China
M/s South Asian Technologies awarded contract to supply vehicle number plates
A new act for National Lotteries Board to be introduced
Motor Vehicles (Driving License Levy) Regulations No. 3 of 2022 to be amended
Mrs. P. K. L. S. Panduwawala appointed to the post of Surveyor General
Implementing the programme to provide concession for pepper, coffee and cardamom plantations affected by the disaster
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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