News
Indian assistance to Sri Lanka totals SLR 517 billion, including SLR 92 bn in grants
Discussion on Batticaloa hospital project underway (pic courtesy Indian HC)
India’s overall commitment of development assistance to Sri Lanka stands at a total of around SLR 517 billion, including SLR 92 billion under grants, the Indian High Commission said in a media statement recently.
The following is the text of the statement that primarily dealt with the ongoing construction of a Surgical Unit to Teaching Hospital, Batticaloa:
“The Project Steering Committee (PSC) Meeting for Construction of Surgical Unit to Teaching Hospital, Batticaloa, chaired by Mr. Vinod K. Jacob, Deputy High Commissioner, held at High Commission of India on 19 August 2020, reviewed the progress of implementation of the Project. The meeting was attended by the officials of the High Commission of India, Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medicine, Department of External Resources and Department of Project Management and Monitoring of Ministry of Finance, Project Consultant from Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB) and Contractor from Malwatte Constructions.
“The project worth SLR 262 Million is being implemented as a High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP) in Sri Lanka. The modernization and improvement of infrastructure for surgeries will benefit the people in and around Eastern Province. India remains committed to further strengthening the health infrastructure of Sri Lanka by implementation of grant projects like 1990 Suwasariya Emergency Ambulance Service, Construction of sanitation units in Batticaloa. India donated 25 tonnes of emergency medicines and medical kits during COVID pandemic to Sri Lanka. A special assistance of USD 1 million through SAARC Development Fund is also being provided for setting up of COVID isolation ward for the National Hospital in Kandy.
“These projects are in continuation of Government of India’s people-oriented development cooperation with the Government of Sri Lanka. India’s overall commitment of development assistance to Sri Lanka stands at a total of around SLR 517 billion and among these, SLR 92 billion under grants.
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development to award the contract for printing and supplying vehicle number plates for the Department of Motor Traffic for a period of five (5) years to M/s South Asian Technologies based on the recommendations of the High-Level Standing Procurement Committee and the Procurement Appeal Board.
The National Lotteries board has been established subject to the Finance Act No. 11 of 1963. Having identified the requirement of amending that act which was imposed around 62 years to cater the current requirements of the lottery market, the Cabinet of Mnisters at their meeting held on 14.02.2017 granted approval to draft a new bill for the purpose.
Accordingly, the National Lotteries Board has recognized further amendments to be performed to the fundamental draft bill prepared by the Legal Draftsmen.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the
resolution furnished by the President in his office as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to direct the Legal Draftsmen to finalize the formulation of the draft bill for the National Lotteries Board as soon as possible including the proposed new amendments as well.
The Werahara office of the Department of Motor Traffic performs issuance of temporary driving licenses in this country based on the driving licenses issued overseas, and measures have been initiated to render the service from a service window of the Department of Motor Traffic established at the Bandaranayake International Airport from 03.08.2025.
The fees charged for issuing temporary driving licenses have been published in Motor Vehicles (Driving License Levy) Regulations No. 3 of 2022 prepared under the provisions of the Motor Traffic (Authority 203) Act.
But, as the fee of Rupees 2,000/- charged for the service is not sufficient, the requirement of amending the regulations has been recognized.
The regulations for introducing the revised fees have been published in the government extraordinary gazette
notification No. 2463/04 dated 17.11.2025. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development to
submit the regulations to the Parliament for its concurrence.
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