As proposed in the budget speech for the year 2025, the government has decided to implement a special fixed deposit scheme for senior citizens.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the President in his office as the Minister of Finance, Plan Implementation and Economic Development to implement the proposed special fixed deposit scheme as follows:

• To implement this scheme for fixed deposits opened within the period from 01.07.2025 to 31.12.2025 by Sri Lankan citizens of age 60 years or more.

• The period of the fixed deposit is 12 months (one year) and, the maximum deposit value is rupees one million.

• Payment of the higher value from the value when a 3% of additional annual amount to the average weighted fixed deposits rate (AWFDR) or the value when a 3% addition is made to the declared fixed deposit interest rate.

• Allocation of rupees 30 billion for payment of interest relief for this whole programme

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation to award the consultation services contract for the modernization of services of the Department of Meteorology  under the Climate Resilience Mitigation Multi-Stage Approach (CResMPA) to the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center in Bangkok, Thailand, based on the recommendations of the Consultation Procurement Committee appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers

The water catchment areas in the Kelani River Basin are facing severe environmental problems due to severe degradation, sedimentation in the lower valleys, sand mining, changes in the land use patterns, urbanization, industrialization, pollution of water catchments, and deterioration of water quality.

Taking into consideration the above, it has been identified the necessity of preparing a management plan for the Kelani River Basin comprising of simple and detailed sub- water catchment management plan. There is a possibility to implement the aforementioned plan in collaboration with the related institutions and with the people of the water catchment areas to upgrade water catchment areas.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation to prepare and implement the aforementioned water catchment management plan for the Kelani River Basin within the Medium-Term Budget Framework by utilizing Rs. 250 million allocated under the program ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ during the year 2025 and 2026