News
Galle Harbour electronic chart published
The Sri Lanka National Hydrographic Office (SLNHO) published a new Electronic Navigation Chart (ENC) of the Galle Harbour, at the SLNHO on 31 Oct. This is the first ENC produced by the SLNHO since its establishment.
The production of this ENC signifies the recent efforts by the SLNHO as a part of a national responsibility entrusted by National Hydrographic Act No: 7, 2024. This new edition substitutes the previous ENC (GB500819) for Galle Harbour produced by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) which contained very old data as far as 1907, and was categorised as very low accuracy data (CATZOC ‘C’) which had a wide array of anomalies also leading to a significant reduction of ships entering the Galle Harbour. However, the timely publication of the new Galle Harbour ENC is expected to regain confidence of the mariners, also ensuring safety of life at sea as envisioned in the SOLAS Convention 1979.
The new Galle Harbour ENC, which is a digital alternative for paper nautical charts (sea maps) helps seafarers to navigate through oceans, and is issued under LK ENC series No: LK5G04A1. These new ENCs are set to enhance the National Hydrographic Office’s capability to generate foreign exchange to the national coffer, as this chart comes with an annual subscription of USD 25 from each user.
The new Galle ENC is produced as part of the ENC production plan of the SLNHO which initially focused on harbour ENCs and harbour approaches ENCs. As per data available at the Information Fusion Center (IFC), Colombo, approximately 40,000 ships had traversed through the southern waters off Sri Lanka in 2023. Taking these matters into consideration, SLNHO will direct its focus towards the deeper waters around Sri Lanka as well.
The Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development has recommended the establishment of Sri Lankan Standards, i.e. the import testing methodology for imported tires used for passenger cars and pneumatic tires for three-wheelers with the aim of ensuring a fair competitive environment for local
manufactures and ensuring consumer safety and security.
Taking into the said recommendations, “Import and Export (control regulations N0.08 of the 2026)” has been enacted to amend the existing regulations by means of the Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 2508/27 dated 2026-10-01, prescribing Sri Lanka standard 1212 for the import of passenger types (HS Code 4011.10.90) and Sri Lanka standard 1347 for the import of
pneumatic tires for three – wheeled vehicles (HS Code 4011.90.10).
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development to submit the aforementioned regulations to Parliament for approval.
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 02.06.2025 to introduce a new act to promote and providing legal provisions for facilitating the Public Private Joint Enterprises within Sri Lanka as well as the establishment of the National Agency for Public Private Partnership Joint Enterprises.
Accordingly, the Legal Draftsman has formulated the relevant draft bill and the Attorney General has given his clearance to the said draft bill.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to publish the said
draft bill in the government gazette notification and thereby submit it to the Parliament for its concurrence.
Regulation, development and control of indigenous medical sector in Sri Lanka comprised of Ayurvedha, Sidhdha, Unani, Local Therapies are carried out under the provisions of Ayurvedha Act No. 31 of 1961.
Although amendments were made to the act from time to time as per the requirements, the necessity of further amending the Ayurvedha Act has been identified to enable efficiently maintaining all activities of local medical field productively, further formalizing the regulation of the sector, taking actions to providing licenses applicable to export of local medicines, and achieving the progress and sustainable development goals in the local medical sector.
Based on the said factors, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to direct the Legal Draftsman to formulate a draft bill to amend the Ayurvedha Act No. 31 of 1961.
Import and Export (Control) Regulations No. 08 of 2026
Draft Bill of the Public Private Partnership Enterprises Act to be gazzetted
Amendment of the Ayurvedha Act No. 31 of 1961
Cabinet nod to amend the Sri Lanka Development Administration Institute Act No. 9 of 1982
Establishment of the National Higher Performance Centre
State patronage for the cremation ceremony of the late deputy prelate (Anu Nayaka Thero) of the Sri Laka Ramangya Maha Nikaya, Gatambe Rajopawanramadhipatha, Siri Chandawimala Wanshalankara, Chandrakeerthi Sri Amarawansha, Sadhdharmawageeshwara, Shasanashobhanna Most Venerable Keppetiyagoda Siriwimalabhidhana Thero
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