News
Prof. Mohan Munasinghe felicitated by Royalty in Japan
Professor Mohan Munasinghe, 2021 Blue Planet Prize Laureate and co-winner of the 2007 Nobel Prize for Peace, recently attended the ceremonies for the Blue Planet Prize, which is the top global award for environmental sustainability, and which is equivalent to a Nobel Prize for environment, his Colombo office said in a news release.
He was felicitated by Royalty and other dignitaries at the event hosted by the Asahi Glass Foundation in Tokyo, which had been postponed to October 2022 due to Covid restrictions in 2021.
Prof. Munasinghe and Mrs. Sria Munasinghe had a special audience with Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko of Japan. They also exchanged mutual felicitations with HRH Sonam Dechen Wangchuck, who was also present to accept the 2022 Blue Planet Prize on behalf of her father, His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the Fourth King of Bhutan.
The award recognizes Prof. Munasinghe’s deep research on environment and sustainability through his pioneering ideas like the Sustainomics framework, sustainable development triangle, millennium consumption goals (MCG) and balanced inclusive green growth (BIGG) path, which have been applied globally, the release said.
“His work has contributed to key international agreements like the 1992 Agenda 21 & UNFCCC, 1997 Kyoto Protocol, 2005 Copenhagen Accord, 2015 Paris Climate Agreement and UN 2030 Agenda & Sustainable Development Goals. Prof. Munasinghe, was Vice Chair of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize,” it added.
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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M/s South Asian Technologies awarded contract to supply vehicle number plates
A new act for National Lotteries Board to be introduced
Motor Vehicles (Driving License Levy) Regulations No. 3 of 2022 to be amended
Mrs. P. K. L. S. Panduwawala appointed to the post of Surveyor General
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