News
Govt. to reconsider Adani wind power project, AG tells court
By AJA Abeynayake
The Attorney General informed the Supreme Court yesterday that the Cabinet of Ministers has decided to reconsider matters related to the wind power project in Wedithalathivu, Mannar, proposed by India’s Adani Green Energy. This update was presented during a hearing on Fundamental Rights petitions seeking to invalidate the Cabinet approval for the proect. Deputy Solicitor General Avanthi Perera, representing the Attorney General, stated that the Cabinet plans to re-evaluate the facts surrounding the project on November 7, 2024, and will determine the future of the initiative at that time. She noted that the current interim Cabinet made this decision and requested an extension to finalize their stance, which will be communicated by the new Cabinet to be formed after the upcoming General Election. Perera emphasized that the current position regarding the project would remain unchanged in the interim.
The petitioning parties, who accepted the facts presented by the Deputy Solicitor General, sought permission from the bench of judges to revise their petitions due to changes in the respondents with the formation of the new government. The Supreme Court granted this request.
Additionally, the Court ordered that any government observations related to the project be submitted by January 31, 2025. The Fundamental Rights petitions were filed by five parties, including the Centre for Environmental Justice, who argue that the proposed wind farm poses significant threats to ecological biodiversity and the safety of migratory birds.
The Paddy Marketing Board has approximately 115,000 metric tonnes of paddy stocks purchased from farmers, which are currently stored in the Board’s warehouses, and it has been planned to retain a sufficient buffer stock from these reserves and sell the remaining quantity in order to provide the necessary storage space and financial resources for the purchase of paddy from farmers during the upcoming Yala season.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation to sell the aforementioned paddy stocks
following a formal tender procedure.
The Promotion of Export Agriculture Act, No. 46 of 1992 provides the legal provisions for regulating and promoting the export agriculture sector in this country.
Taking into consideration administrative changes and sectoral developments that have taken place over time, approval was granted at the Cabinet Meetings held on 2023-09-04 and 2025-08-11 to amend the said Act, which has not been updated for over 30 years.
The proposed amendments are intended to amend the designations of the Head of the Department of Export Agriculture and other officials, and to provide a clearer definition of the term “the export agricultural crop.”
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation to publish in the Government Gazette the Draft Export Agriculture Promotion (Amendment) Bill, prepared in all three languages by the Legal Draftsman to amend the Export Agriculture Promotion Act, No. 46 of 1992, and thereafter submit the same to Parliament for its concurrence
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Ms. M.K.D.N. Madampe, appointed as Director General of the Department of Management Services
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Cabinet approves sale of Paddy stocks held by the Paddy Marketing Board
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