News
Prez expected to rescind disputed gazette soon
SLPP dissidents lambaste HSZs:
President Ranil Wickremesinghe is expected to abolish High Security Zones (HSZs) that had been established in Colombo and its suburbs in terms of a controversial gazette issued last Friday.
Authoritative sources told The Island that President Wickremesinghe had advised the Attorney General to adopt necessary measures in this regard. Sources said so in response to The Island queries in the wake of former Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris lambasting the government over the declaration of HSZs.
Addressing the media yesterday (27) Prof. Peiris, who represents one of the rebel SLPP groups, questioned the legality of the HSZs declared in terms of the outdated Official Secrets Act that was meant for an entirely different purpose. The SLPP National List MP explained how the Wickremesinghe administration sought to suppress rapidly growing public dissent over dictatorial administration.
Referring to a statement issued by Acting Defence Minister Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon, the former law professor said that the public didn’t want to beg for government’s permission to enjoy rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
Sources said that President Wickremesinghe issued the relevant gazette bearing No 2298/53 on Sept 23 before he left on an official visits to Japan and the Philippines.
According to sources, President Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Defence Minister issued the relevant gazette following representations made by a team of officials from the Public Security Ministry. However, others have pointed out that though continuing protest campaign was severely detrimental to the economy, declaration of HSZs in the city could cause other issues.
Sources said that President Wickremesinghe has advised the Public Security Ministry to implement a new security scheme after having abolished the HSZs. President Wickremesinghe would rescind the gazette immediately after returning from the overseas visit, sources said.
Prof. Peiris said that the government was struggling to cope up with rapidly growing dissent. Declaration of HSZs was part of an overall strategy to scare the Opposition, the civil society and those struggling to make ends meet.
The Human Rights Council and the Bar Association strongly condemned the use of Official Secrets Act to issue the relevant gazette in order to suppress growing Opposition-led public protests (SF)
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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