2024-04-19
News Categories : Committee News
Chair of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Natural Resources & Sustainable Development Hon. Ajith Mannapperuma instructed officials of all institutions to work together within a specified time frame to speed up the Galle Port Marina Development Project and the establishment of Blue Flag Beaches.
The Chair also pointed out that many projects beneficial to the country are being delayed due to lack of proper coordination and lack of consensus among government institutions.
The Committee Chair stated the said during the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Natural Resources & Sustainable Development when discussing the Galle Harbor Marina Development Project and the establishment of blue flag beaches initiated in 2018 which has been delayed for 16 years.
Officials representing the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing, Ministry of Tourism and Lands, Port Authority, Housing Development Authority, Marine Environmental Protection Authority, Coastal Conservation and Coastal Resource Management Department, Galle Municipal Council, Archeology Department, Wildlife Conservation Department were present at the meeting held.
It was disclosed that the grant for the Galle Port Development Project, which is being implemented with the aim of increasing tourist attraction, was approved in 2006 and was not implemented as it was not a financial advantage.
Thereafter, based on the economic advantages of the project, according to the second project proposal, the identified 40 hectares of land will be reclaimed and a heritage impact report, environmental and archeological evaluation report will be obtained for this and given to a suitable investor, the officials of the Port Authority informed the Committee.
Archeology officials also pointed out that there are 4 shipwrecks in this area and an Archaeological Impact Analysis (AIA) could lead to alternative methods such as exhuming the ship parts and displaying them. They further stated that since this land is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, attention should be given to it.
The legal hurdles for this project, including the approval of the Department of Wildlife Conservation, were also taken into discussion here. Attention was also paid to the feasibility of this project being handed over to the Urban Development Authority and the Karaka Council emphasized the need for such projects to be beneficial to the country and implemented in coordination with all institutions. Furthermore, Hon. Ajith Mannapperuma, Chairman of the Committee, pointed out that this Sectoral Oversight Committee should be used as a platform to meet all the institutions and parties and solve the problems.
Accordingly, the port authority was informed to report the related progress to the Committee twice in two weeks and the coastal conservation department was informed to inform the relevant preliminary progress by April 26.
Attention was also paid to the Blue Flag Beaches project, which is implemented with the aim of increasing tourist attraction and protecting the marine environment. It was also disclosed that 28 beaches with tourist attractions in Sri Lanka have been selected for this and 33 criteria must be met for this certificate. The Chair pointed out that 8 beaches in India, which started this project after Sri Lanka, have already received this certificate, and that this project, which was started when he was the state minister for Environment, has been delayed for years and has not yet been implemented.
Officials of the Maritime Environment Protection Authority stated that the beaches of Unawatuna, Bentota, Pasikuda and Arugambe have been identified as beaches that can get official certification and the relevant activities are being carried out. Accordingly, Hon. Ajith Mannapperuma emphasized the need to speed up these activities by coordinating all relevant institutions.
Accordingly, the Committee also advised to organize a workshop to inform all parties including the relevant regional secretaries under the initiative of the Maritime Environment Protection Authority and the Ministry of Tourism and Lands.
2026-07-10
The Committee on High Posts, which met in Parliament recently (Jul. 08), has granted its approval for the appointment of Mr. D.P. Wickramasingha as the Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation.The meeting was chaired by the Hon. Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and was attended by Hon. Ministers Bimal Rathnayake and Dr. Upali Pannilage, as well as Hon. Members of Parliament Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe, Rishad Bathiudeen, K. Kader Mastan, Kumara Jayakody, Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan, and Attorney-at-Law Chamindrani Kiriella.
2026-07-08
The Committee on Public Finance (CoPF) has approved the submission to Parliament of a Resolution under the Customs Ordinance and two Orders under the Sri Lanka Export Development Act, following its consideration.The decision was taken at a meeting of the Committee held in Parliament on 6th July, chaired by Hon. Member of Parliament Dr. Harsha de Silva.Accordingly, the Committee considered the Resolution published in Extraordinary Gazette No. 2478/03 under the Customs Ordinance (Chapter 235), as well as the Orders published in Extraordinary Gazette Nos. 2478/04 and 2479/38 under the Sri Lanka Export Development Act. Officials representing the Ministry of Finance, Sri Lanka Customs, and the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) attended the meeting.In line with the 2026 Budget proposal to implement the National Tariff Policy, the existing customs import duty rates of 0%, 15% and 20% on imported goods have been restructured into a four-band system of 0%, 10%, 20% and 30%, effective 1 April 2026.Committee discussions emphasized that these amendments are not merely changes to tax rates, but mark the beginning of implementing a National Tariff Policy that will shape Sri Lanka's trade and investment environment over the coming decade. Officials explained that the principal objective of the policy is to establish a scientific and predictable tariff structure that will enable Sri Lanka to integrate more effectively into global supply chains.Under the policy, a new four-band tariff structure based on the United Nations Broad Economic Categories (BEC Revision 5) classification is proposed, requiring the reclassification of numerous HS tariff codes. The new tariff framework will classify imports under four principal categories—capital goods, intermediate goods, sensitive intermediate goods, and consumer goods—while also balancing the objectives of protecting domestic industries and maintaining stable government revenue.It was also revealed that, to provide relief to the construction sector, the current effective import tax rate on ceramic tiles, which stands at approximately 85–90%, will be reduced in stages to 20% by 2029. This is expected to lower construction costs and encourage investment in housing and infrastructure.The Government also proposes introducing new national tariff sub-categories for various sectors in response to requests from domestic industries.Officials further noted that the Government aims to gradually phase out para-tariffs such as the CESS and the Ports and Airports Levy (PAL) by 2029, moving towards a simpler tariff regime. The Committee also advised officials to consider measures to mitigate any adverse impacts that may arise from tariff liberalization.It was noted that these tax reforms are expected to support the Export Development Board's objective of doubling Sri Lanka's export earnings from US$18 billion to US$36 billion over the next five years. The policy is also expected to provide a strong foundation for integrating Sri Lanka into global supply chains, particularly in the electronics, rubber products, pharmaceuticals, and information technology sectors.The Committee also expressed serious concern over delays in updating trade data. The Chair observed that the Department of Trade and Investment Policy's trade database had not been updated since 2021, and instructed the relevant officials to update all trade data and related information required for evidence-based policymaking within one week.The Gazette notifications are scheduled to be debated in Parliament today (8 July), following which they are expected to be submitted for Parliamentary approval.The meeting was attended by Hon. Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Hon. Deputy Minister Dr. Kaushalya Ariyarathna, and Hon. Members of Parliament Ravi Karunanayake, Harshana Rajakaruna, and Attorney-at-Law Lakmali Hemachandra.
2026-07-08
Hon. Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake stated that the Government will introduce a Cluster Bus Company System to improve public transportation, adding that Cabinet approval for the initiative was recently granted.The Minister made these remarks yesterday (7th July) while chairing the meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Transport, Highways and Urban Development in Parliament.He further stated that the scheme will initially be implemented as a pilot project on bus routes 177, 170 and 190.The Minister also said that the previous four categories of bus services; normal, semi-luxury, luxury and super-luxury have been streamlined by removing the semi-luxury and super-luxury categories. Referring to the Semi-Luxury category, the Minister stated that a related court case is currently pending and that the relevant facts will be presented before the court.Minister Rathnayake further pointed out that it is not equitable to apply a single fare formula to both long-distance and short-distance bus services. Given the higher operating costs associated with long-distance services, a separate methodology will be introduced to determine fares for long-distance buses. He emphasized that the Government is committed to safeguarding both the bus industry and passengers.The Chair of the Committee also sought clarification from officials on whether bus fares could be reduced following recent fuel price decreases. Officials explained that although fuel prices have declined, other operating costs remain high, limiting the scope for fare reductions.The Committee also discussed a range of issues including reducing road accidents, establishing dedicated lanes for bicycles and motorcycles, road development projects, and complaints from passengers regarding the failure to receive correct change from bus conductors. Officials were instructed to take the necessary action on these matters.The Chair further directed officials to intervene promptly to resolve issues raised by Members of Parliament relating to the transport and urban development sectors.The Committee also agreed that regulations made by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development under the Motor Traffic Act (No. 203), and published in Extraordinary Gazette No. 2480/22 dated 19 March 2026, should be submitted to Parliament for approval following the Committee's consideration.The regulations extend the concessionary period granted for fitting seat belts to seats in vehicles travelling on expressways where seat belts were not originally installed by the manufacturer. As the Committee observed that the previous grace period was insufficient, it has been extended from 20 March 2026 until 19 June 2026.The meeting was attended by Hon. Deputy Minister of Urban Development Eranga Gunasekara, several Members of Parliament, and officials representing the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development.
2026-07-07
The current progress of tourism promotion projects being implemented in various parts of the country, as well as the proposed budgetary allocations for next year aimed at further developing the tourism sector, were discussed at length during the meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism.The discussion took place when the Committee met recently at Parliament under the chairmanship of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Hon. Vijitha Herath.During the meeting, the Committee also reviewed the current status of Sri Lanka's trade agreements with foreign countries. The Chair informed members that a special committee has been appointed to review the country's foreign trade agreements, and that necessary policy decisions will be taken after its report is received.Members of Parliament also presented a number of proposals for new projects and programmes that could be implemented in different parts of the island to further promote the tourism industry.The meeting was attended by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment, Hon. Arun Hemachandra, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe, and Members of Parliament serving on the Consultative Committee.
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