News
Indian mining delegation in Lanka to explore opportunities
An Indian mining delegation led by the country’s Ministry of Mines is in Sri Lanka to explore opportunities in the island nation’s mining sector, the Indian High Commission in Colombo said.
According to the state-run Board of Investment (BOI) data, Sri Lanka has 7.5 million metric tons (MT) of Ilmenite/Rutile/Zircon deposits in both Eastern coastal town of Pulmudai in Trincomalee district and Northwestern coastal town of Puttalam, 45,000 MT of graphite, and 60 million MT of Apatite.
Both India and Pakistan are given market access to the deposits with duty concession under Indo-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (ISLFTA) and Pakistan-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (PSLFTA) with 100 percent duty free for any machinery related to the mining business.
The Indian High Commission in its official X-platform said High Commissioner Santosh Jha “interacted with the Indian mining delegation” led by the country’s Ministry of Mines during their visit to Sri Lanka.
“The delegation is exploring potential opportunities for collaboration in the mining and minerals sectors,” it said.
The previous government attempted to finalize 10 mining companies which have been looking to invest in the island nation’s mining for a long time with some changes to the mining regulation, but it could not complete the process before its electoral defeat in September 2024.
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Cabinet in August 2023 approved several proposals aimed at promoting foreign and local investment in the country’s mineral industry to boost revenues in a sector which has been long dragged by corruption.
The previous government changed a key regulation which said companies given mining approval should start value addition from day 1.
The regulation changed to allow mining companies to export the minerals either for 24 months or a maximum 30 percent of the grids without value addition. The licensee then could put up a value addition plant.
Sri Lanka exports the minerals to the United States, United Kingdom, China, India, and Pakistan. The island nation earned around $25 million in 2024, less than half it exported in 2022, Central Bank data showed.
India has been eyeing Trincomalee, the mineral resource rich district, for decades.
A mineral sand deposit in Sri Lanka’s northern part contains Ilmenite, Rutile, Zircon, Monazite, Garnet, Sillimanite, and other heavy minerals, Export Development Board (EDB) data shows.
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.
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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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