News
Amendment to existing law necessary for holding PC polls, AG informs PSC

Leader of the House and Education Minister Dinesh Gunawardena has informed the Parliamentary Select Committee on electoral reforms that the Provincial Council elections cannot be held without an amendment to the existing law.
Minister Gunawardena, who is also the chairman of the PSC, said that the Attorney General’s opinion had been consulted on the holding of elections for the provincial councils and the latter had pointed out that the elections could not be held even under the previous system with an amendment to the law.
The minister said so at a meeting of the Select Committee of Parliament to identify appropriate reforms of the election laws and the electoral system and to recommend necessary amendments held on Friday (8).
The minister told the committee members that this a legal impediment to hold the Provincial Council elections, which were functioning for a prolonged period of time without people’s representatives.
Various members of the committee had previously stressed the need to hold Provincial Councils elections without delay and reiterated the same sentiments during the Friday’s meeting.
Although the existing Act on Provincial Council elections is repealed, the polls cannot be held under any system without enacting a new Act, the Attorney General has informed the committee.
The PSC comprises of Ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva, Prof GL Peiris, Basil Rajapaksa, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Douglas Devananda, Wimal Weerawansa, Ali Sabry and MPs Jeewan Thondaman, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Kabir Hashim, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Mano Ganesan, MA Sumanthiran, Madhura Withanage, Sagara Kariyawasam and Rauff Hakim.
Among those present were State Minister of State Minister of Ornamental Fish, Inland Fish and Prawn Farming, Fishery Harbour Development, Multi Day Fishing Activities and Fish Exports Kanchana Wijesekera, MPs UK Sumith, Gunapala Ratnayake, local government officials and politicians of the Kuruengala District.
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Concessionary priced food packages for new ‘Aswesuma’ applicants from 01st to 13th April

In keeping with the proposal by the President in his 2025 budget, for the provision of a package essential goods at a concessionary price during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year Festival season, it has been planned to provide a food package containing essential food items valued at Rs. 5000/- for only Rs. 2,500/-.
It is expected to select appropriate beneficiaries from among the 812,753 candidates who have submitted new applications for Aswesuma benefits.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal furnished by the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development jointly with the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to take necessary steps to provide the food package to the beneficiaries through the Lanka Sathosa outlet network and COOPFED outlets from 01.04.2025 to 13.04.2025
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Salary revision of the Government Service – 2025

The Cabinet of Ministers have decided as follows considering the resolutions submitted by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Plan Implementation and Economic Development along with the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Governments on payment of salaries according to the revised salary scales with effect from 01.04.2025 based on the resolution furnished by the President for revising the salaries of government service by the budget 2025;
• To empower the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Governments to issue circular instructions to the the secretaries of all the Ministries, Local Government Secretaries and Heads of Departments in regard to salary revisions of the government service.
• To empower the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Plan Implementation and Economic Development to issue circular instructions for state corporations, statutory boards and fully government owned companies and other institutions.
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Amendment of the Companies Act No. 07 of 2007 to be Gazetted

Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers has been granted to amend the Companies Act No. 07 of 2007 for remedying the shortcomings related to the transparency according to the international standards for prevention of money laundering, financing terrorism and other illegal activities.
Accordingly, the draft bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman has been revised as per instructions provided by the Attorney General subject to the special decision of the Supreme Court No. SC/SD/92/2024 and clearance of the Attorney General has been granted for the final draft bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman.
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Safety and Cooperative Development to publish the aforementioned draft bill in the government gazette notification and subsequently submit to the Parliament for its concurrence.
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