01.    False media report s on cut off of Samurdhi Allowance

The public has been  misled by  the false  media reports, saying that  Samurdhi  Allowance of  some beneficiaries  has been  suspended. The  Cabinet has  noted that  the government has not  taken any  decision to  cut off  the  Samurdhi allowance  and  H.E.  the President has emphasized it the other day.


02.  Supply  of   vehicles  and  equipment  to  Institutions  under  the  preview  of  the  ministry   of  Sustainable  Development  and  Wildlife ( Document  No. 09 )


Considering a  proposal made by sustainable  Development and Wildlife  Minister  Gamini   Jayawickrema  Perera, to provide  essential vehicles   and equipments   for the  Development of  Wildlife   Conservation, Department of  National  Botanical  Gardens,  the  Cabinet has  approved to  provide allocations   in  2018   and  2019, for the   above purpose  and to provide   Rs. 500  million in  2018  as its first phase.


03.    Amendment of the Motor Traffic Act (Document No – 10)



The Legal Draftsmen has drafted an amendment bill for amending relevant articles and schedule No II of the above act to make provisions on transferring the authority of practically implementing Driver’s demerit point system, to magistrates and police officers, Declare the minimum qualifications for drivers who transport dangerous chemicals, emergency services, and public transport services, regulation of speech limits, introduction of electronic payment platform for payment of fines. Introduce new classes of vehicle for registration of special vehicles, etc. The proposal made by the Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, to publish the said bill in Gazette and present in parliament for approved, was approved by the Cabinet of Minister.


04.    Collection of arrears of taxes for “luxury”  “semi luxury” and semi luxury dual purpose” vehicles (Document No – 12)


An annual tax should be paid for traveling classes of vehicles for Seven years since its registration as per the Finance Act No 16 of 1995



•    Luxury vehicles – ( Diesel motor cars exceeding cylinder capacity of 2500 and petrol motor cars exceeding cylinder capacity of 2000)


•    Semi Luxury vehicles – (Diesel motor cars 2201-2500cc, Diesel jeeps exceeding 2200 cc. petrol cars 1801-2000cc, petrol jeeps exceeding 1800 cc)


•    Semi Luxury dual purpose Vehicles – (Diesel cabs  exceeding 2200 cc, Petrol cabs exceeding 1800 cc)


The first installment of the tax should be paid to the Department of Motor Traffic at the registration and the rest installments could be paid either to the department or to the insurance company. Omission of taxes are liable to a 50% levy and the total due amount is above Rs. 350 million. Considering that such omissions may be due to reasons beyond the control of vehicle owners, the proposal made by the Transport and Civil Aviation, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva to declare a 03 month concessionary period from 01 Sep 2017 to 30 Nov.2017, and to charge only 5% levy during that period, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.



05.    Amendment of National Aquaculture Development Authority of Sri Lanka Act No. 53 of 1998. (Document No. 16)


With the Development of aquaculture field in Sri Lanka Provisions required for, Providing a Legal frame Work for regulation, conservation and management of activities and for implementing punishments for identified offenses, importation of organisms, materials and equipment's, and for issuing of relevant licenses, should be included in the above act.


Accordingly, the proposal made by the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister, Mahinda Amaraweera, to ascend the above act and to appoint a Committee to make proposal and recommendations in this regard, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.



06.    Amendment of Tea, Rubber and Coconut Estates (Control of fragmentation) Act No.2 of 1958 (Document No.22)


Under the above act for fragmentation or transfer of a coconut estate larger than 04 hectares and Tea, and Rubber states larger than 20 hectares, a certificate of consent should be obtained from the Tea, Rubber and Coconut Estates (Control of fragmentation) Board.


It is a timely need to be flexible in this law for using such lands to large scale development projects. Accordingly, the proposal made by the plantation Industries Minister Navin Dissanayake to reduce the above limitations as 02 hectares (05 acres) for Coconut lands and 08 hectares (20 acres) for Tea and Rubber estates, by amending the above act was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.


07.    Making relief for tea small holders affected by floods and landslides. (Document No.23)