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UN ASG explores collaborative development initiatives and economic reforms in Lanka

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Kanni Wignaraja, United Nations Assistant-Secretary-General (ASG) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Director and Azusa Kubota, Resident Representative, UNDP in Sri Lanka met with Prime Minister, Dinesh Gunawardena

United Nations Assistant-Secretary-General (ASG) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Director, Kanni Wignaraja, concluded her meetings in Sri Lanka, aimed at extending partnerships and development financing for the country to contribute towards recovery efforts. During her short visit, ASG Wignaraja engaged in high-level discussions with national leadership, including Prime Minister, Dinesh Gunawardena; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ali Sabry; and State Minister of Finance, Shehan Semasinghe.

She also met with Mizukoshi Hideaki, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Sri Lanka. ASG Wignaraja’s exchanges focused on Sri Lanka’s current development priorities and needs, and the relevant policy reforms being pursued to ensure a more sustainable and inclusive growth and recovery. Emphasis was placed on the challenges faced by the most vulnerable, who are highly susceptible to inflationary pressures on food and essential commodities, and regressive tax policies.

The meetings also pinpointed enhanced collaboration between UNDP and the Government on strengthened economic governance and improvement of the country’s overall productivity, transparency and efficiency, particularly through digitalization of service delivery and the effective implementation of the new composite anti-corruption law.

ASG Wignaraja also discussed the need for greater investments and incentives to accelerate the renewable energy transition and the valuation and management of natural assets including the island’s significant biodiversity, both on land and underwater, to lay necessary foundations for innovative financing. She also shared the findings of UNDP’s 2024 Regional Human Development Report for the Asia-Pacific which provides contemporary data and analysis on the development trends in the larger region and the positioning of Sri Lanka in the broader regional context.



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Cabinet nod to increase the number of new automated passenger clearance gates at the Bandaranayake International Airport to 12

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Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 19.05.2025 to purchase four (04) automated passenger clearance gates for Bandaranayake International Airport.

In addition, it is expected to extend the automated passenger clearance gates facility so far given only to the Sri Lankans
parallel to the e – passport issuance system to be introduced in the year 2027 also to the foreigners who travel to and from this country.

Furthermore, considering also the number of air passengers rapidly increasing with the fast – forwarding business and tourism field, the appropriateness to increase the total automated passenger clearance gates up to twelve (12) in number has been recognized.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers,  approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs to initiate the procurement and installation of 12
automated passenger clearance gates altogether with the already approved four (04) and another eight (08) automated passenger clearance gates adhering to the formal procurement procedure

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Draft Bill for amending the Trust Ordinance

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Based on the observations submitted by the Task Force on Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing for Terrorism, approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 18.12.2024 to amend the Trust Ordinance No. 9 of 1917 including amendments proposed by the Financial
Intelligence Unit of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

Accordingly, clearance of the Attorney General has been granted for the Trust (Amendment) Draft Bill formulated by the Legal Draftsman.

Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Justice and National Integration
to publish the said draft bill in the government gazette notification and thereby, submit the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.

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Implementing further relief programme to Public sffected by the Middle East conflict situation

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Action was taken to provide a fuel relief for the fuel consumers during the months of April, May and June of 2026 to redress by minimizing the impact caused to the day today life of the citizens of this country as well as the entire economy due to the price hike of petroleum fuel in the global market resulting from the war situation in the Middle East.

Government mediation is essential for minimizing the impact on the day to today life of citizens in this country due to that war situation not being ended further. Therefore, it has been planned to redress on the sale price for Auto Diesel and Industrial Diesel for a period of 03 months by the Government to provide relief to the public as well as to maintain the prices at a bearable level to the consumers without escalating the fuel prices in this country compared to the escalation of fuel prices
in the international market.

Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to
allocate provisions subject to the monthly limitations respectively as rupees 15 billion for the month of October, rupees 13.5 billion for the month of November and rupees 12.15 billion for the month of December to provide the said relief

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