News
China pledges to deliver five billion rupees worth of medicines to Sri Lanka soon
China will deliver five billion rupees worth of medicines to Sri Lanka in the near future, Qi Zhenhong Ambassador of China to Sri Lanka, said yesterday at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital, after making a donation.He said that China is one of the biggest providers of medical aid to Sri Lanka in recent years. Since China and Sri Lanka established diplomatic relations, 65 years ago, the two countries and peoples have always been understanding and supporting each other, he said. The COVID-19 pandemic, and the domestic economic crisis, have brought severe difficulties to Sri Lanka, and its public health sector is especially faced with unprecedented challenges, Zhenhong said.
“China has been the biggest donor and supplier of PPEs, test kits and vaccines to Sri Lanka, throughout the pandemic, which largely helped the island to win the battle against COVID-19. To tackle the CKDu (chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology) in Sri Lanka, China has handed over the National Nephrology Hospital, in Polonnaruwa, the Joint Research and Demonstration Centre for Water Technology in the University of Peradeniya, and eight kidney disease mobile labs to the Ministry of Health of Sri Lanka and brought into operation in the last year,” he said.
China has also donated medicines worth 1.2 billion rupees, under its 500 million RMB emergency humanitarian assistance. In the coming months, more medical supplies, with a total value of five billion rupees, will be handed over to Sri Lanka and delivered to hospitals and patients across the island, he said.The Ambassador added that the biggest China-aid project so far, a brand-new National Hospital OPD Centre, in Colombo, which can accommodate 6,000 patients daily, will be soon opened to the Sri Lankan people.In conclusion, the Ambassador said: “I reiterate that at this moment of difficulty, we will stand by your side, hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart, and jointly overcome the current challenges to contribute more to the well-being of our two peoples.”
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.
News
Introduction of Flora and Fauna (Regulation of actions of the Indigenous Community within the nominated areas) Regulations
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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M. M. D. J. Senarathne, appointed Director General of the Department of National Botanical Gardens
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Environment to appoint M. M. D. J. Senarathne, who is the senior most officer in Grade I of Sri Lanka Scientific Service se
Establishment of an Institutional Framework to Inagurate Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority
Introduction of Flora and Fauna (Regulation of actions of the Indigenous Community within the nominated areas) Regulations
M. M. D. J. Senarathne, appointed Director General of the Department of National Botanical Gardens
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