News
SOC approves National Building Research Institute Bill
The National Building Research Institute Bill, scheduled to be taken up for its second reading in Parliament on 23.09.2025, was considered and approved by the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection. This took place at the meeting of the Committee in Parliament on the 11th under the Chairmanship of Member of Parliament (Dr.) Najith Indika.
Although the National Building Research Organization has been functioning since 1984, it has not yet been established by an Act of Parliament. Therefore, the proposed Bill seeks to provide the Organization with legal status in order to properly fulfil the duties, responsibilities, and services entrusted to it. Officials, making submissions before the Committee, stated that in instances where Local Government institutions fail to adhere to the recommendations issued by the Organization with regard to landslides, once this proposed Bill is passed, it would be possible to take legal action in that respect.
In addition, during this meeting, the Annual Reports of the National Building Research Organization for 2022 and 2023 and the Performance Reports of the Ministry of Defence for 2023 and 2024 were also taken up for consideration. The Committee inquired regarding the matters highlighted in the Performance Report with respect to the number of firearms provided for the protection of crops from wild animals. Responding officials stated that steps have been taken to collect complete information at the District level and compare it with the information of the Ministry.
Following these discussions, the Committee considered and approved the reports.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Minister Major General (retd.) Aruna Jayasekara, and Members of Parliament Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam, Mujibur Rahman, Thushari Jayasingha, Attorney-at-Law, M.K.M. Aslam, Major General (retd.) G.D. Sooriyabandara, and Darmapriya Wijesinghe.
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
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