Decisions taken at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on 09.08.2021
01. Entering into a Memorandum of Understanding between the University of Sri Jayawardhanapura and the University of Edith Cowan, Australia
It has been proposed to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding between the University of Sri Jayawardhanapura and the University of Edith Cowan, Australia for the objectives of enhancing research co-operation in the fields mutually agreed between the two parties, implementation of student exchange programmes as per the requirements of the two parties implementation of executive educational programmes on hospitality, the implementation of curriculum and subject development programmes and the implementation of consolidated doctorate programmes. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Education for signing the above Memorandum of Understanding between the two parties.
02. Entering into a Memorandum of Understanding between the Open University of Sri Lanka and the University of Essex, United Kingdom
It has been proposed to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding between the Open University of Sri Lanka and the University of Essex, United Kingdom to enter the qualified students accomplished the relevant courses at the Open University of Sri Lanka into the University of Essex, United Kingdom, to implement partnership researches subject to mutual concurrence, and to organize student, faculty and staff exchange programmes. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Education for signing the above Memorandum of Understanding between the two parties.
03. Implementation of a working capital loan scheme under concessionary conditions for re – energizing public ventures.
The monitoring activities of approximately 282 totally or partially government – owned ventures in action at present have been crippled due to non – operation of market mechanism properly due to the Covid – 19 pandemic situations. Therefore, the ventures have confronted a difficulty to supply working capital required for day today operations. By the end of the year 2020, with the outbreak of Covid – 19 pandemic circumstances throughout the country, the Government implemented a concessionary loan scheme named “Saubhagyaa Covid – 19 Rehabilitation Facility” under the supervision of the Central bank of Sri Lanka by the

Government in order to accomplish the working capital requirements for minor and medium scale sectors and an amount approximately Rs. 156 billion have been granted to approximately 53,200 entrepreneurs under the said loan scheme. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Finance for providing the opportunity to accomplish the working capital requirements of state ventures under that loan scheme.
04. Obtaining the service of an intellect committee for a sustainable agriculture.
The Ministry of Agriculture and the institutions under the purview of the Ministry are acting to achieve the challenges of converting the entire local agriculture to organic fertilizer use for ensuring a meal void of poisons to the citizens to produce a healthy and a productive citizen as described in the policy declaration of “Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour”. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution submitted by the Minister of Agriculture to appoint a committee comprised of intellects in the relevant field led by Professor of Environmental Agriculture, Priyantha Indralal Yapa of the University of Sabaragamuwa in order to obtain the participation of all applicable parties for carry on with this process formally, to obtain required guidance for taking policy decisions
05. Formalizing the upgrading, monitoring and maintenance activities of playgrounds and sports complexes constructed at provincial council and district level.
It has been observed that the expected objectives of the athletes could not be achieved due to lack of precise maintenance of most of the sports complexes and playgrounds throughout the island. It is essential to maintain the sports complexes and playgrounds with necessary facilities especially for the athletes who show district level skills as well as provincial level skills in order to accomplish the objectives expected in the sports field. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution tabled by the Minister of Youth and Sports to introduce a formal methodology for maintaining such sports complexes and playgrounds under the participation of the private sector.
06. Amendments to Voluntary Social Service Organizations (Registration and Supervision) Act, No. 31 of 1980,
It has been found that the provisions of the existing Voluntary Social Service Organizations (Registration and Supervision) Act, No. 31 of 1980 for the registration of voluntary organizations do not meet the present requirements. Taking into account the proposal made by His Excellency the President in his capacity as the Minister of Defence, the Cabinet of Ministers decided to advise the legal draftsman to draft a bill enabling to introduce a new Act including the present requirements in place of the Voluntary Social Service Organizations (Registration and Supervision) Act, No. 31 of 1980

07. Amendment of v Tourism Act No. 38 of 2005 to promote the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management in to a degree awarding institution
Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management, established under the Tourism Act No. 38 of 2005, conducts training courses from foundation level to management level. Currently, similar courses are conducted at some universities and private institutions. However, these courses are based primarily on theory and do not provide adequate field level practical training. Therefore, this institute has been identified as suitable for conducting degree courses in the field of tourism with adequate field training. Accordingly, the cabinet of ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Tourism to make the necessary legal provisions for this and to amend the Tourism Act No. 38 of 2005 so that the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management can be promoted into a tertiary level higher education institution.
08. Making legal provisions for accepting foreign divorce, marriage annulment or judicial separation in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka does not accept court decisions obtained by Sri Lankans those who have married in Sri Lanka and subsequently resided abroad by filing marital cases in those countries. Because of this, those parties have to face difficulties. In order to comply with such a decision in this country, they have to file a divorce case in Sri Lanka again. The Family Law Advisory Committee appointed by the Minister of Justice has recommended that legal provisions be made to accept divorce, annulment and judicial separation to take place abroad. Accordingly, Cabinet of Ministers approved proposal made by the Minister of Justice to instruct a legal draftsman to prepare a bill to enact legal provisions for the recognition of divorces, annulments and judicial separations in foreign countries.
09. Amendments to the Consumer Affairs Authority Act, No.09 of 2003.
The approval was given at the Cabinet Meeting held on 19th July 2021 to amend the 5th subsection of the 60th section in the Consumer Affairs Authority Act, No.09 of 2003. In particular, these amendments seek to provide the necessary legal provisions to control the sale of essential consumer goods at higher prices by certain traders beyond the control price. Accordingly, clearance of the Attorney General has been received for the Bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman and the Cabinet of Ministers has given their consent for the proposal tabled by the Minister of Trade to publish the Bill will in the Government Gazette and subsequently submitted to Parliament for approval.

10. Importation of Organic Fertilizers and Natural Minerals and Chelated Plant Nutrients for the Maha Season 2021 /2022.
It has been given the approval on 31.05.2021 to import the amount of fertilizer required for the Maha season 2021/2022 which could not be fulfilled from local organic fertilizer production by following the competitive procurement procedure. Accordingly, international competitive bids have been invited for Ceylon Fertilizer Company Limited and Colombo Commercial Fertilizer Company Limited to procure the required stocks of fertilizer. The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal tabled by the Minister of Agriculture to award the relevant procurements as the recommendations of the Special Procurement Committee appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers.
11. AppointingaCabinetSub-Committeetostudymattersrelatingtoteacher-principalsalary anomalies.
The Cabinet of Ministers discussed at length on the situation regarding teacher-principal salary anomalies. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers decided to appoint a Cabinet Sub-Committee consisting of the following Ministers to take into consideration all the relevant facts in this regard and to further study the matter and report to the Cabinet of Ministers.
• Hon.Dullas Alahapperuma Minister of Electricity
• Hon.Wimal Weerawansha Minister of Industries
• Hon.Mahinda Amaraweera Minister of Environment
• Hon.Prasanna Ranathunga Minister of Tourism
12. The Shortage of Milk powder in the Market.
The attention of the Cabinet of Ministers focused on the Milk powder shortage that currently prevails in the Market. The Cabinet of Ministers decided to vest the powers to the Minister of Finance to study the matter and take necessary action to ensure that sufficient stocks of milk powder are supplied to the local market by revising the existing tax rates or taking other appropriate measures to import milk powder without increasing the price of milk powder in the local marke