58– Submission of a new Immigration Bill to Parliament
The Cabinet has approved the standards and quality control regulations issued under the Import and Export (Control) Regulations No. 07 of 2024 issued under the Import and Export (Control) Act No. 01 of 1969.
In the cabinet meeting held yesterday (11), 14 resolutions have been approved in the cabinet.
Although the import of motor vehicles has been temporarily suspended in Sri Lanka due to the Import and Export (Control) Regulations No. 02 of 2023, the proposal submitted by the Minister of Tourism and Lands to import 250 minibuses and 750 vans for the transport of tourists has been approved in the Cabinet meeting held on 01.04.2024. Accordingly, the Import and Export Control Regulations No. 07 of 2024 have been issued under the Import and Export (Control) Act No. 01 of 1969 to implement the said decision.
Also, Import and Export Control (Standardization) 2017 imposed under the Import and Export (Control) Act No. 01 of 1969 for standardization and quality control during importation of 122 commodities classified under 217 HS Codes for the purposes of national economy, public health and environmental protection. and quality control) regulations and to provide efficient, safe and efficient transport facilities and to impose regulations to ensure fair opportunities for domestic manufactures and imported manufactures has been approved in the Cabinet meeting held on 11.03.2024.
Accordingly, the standardization and quality control regulations have been issued under the Import and Export (Control) Act No. 01 of 1969. The Cabinet has approved the idea submitted by the President as Minister of Finance, Economic Stability and National Policy to submit the relevant regulations published by Special Gazette notification for Parliamentary approval.
02. Proposed Sri Lanka Malaysia Free Trade Agreement
The importance of attracting export-oriented foreign direct investment, export diversification and expanding market access for goods and services has been identified in order to regain Sri Lanka’s economic stability.
For that Sri Lanka needs to develop economic relations with countries with strong strategic economies. Malaysia, a key member of the ASEAN and Regional Sustainable Economic Partnership, is Sri Lanka’s 34th export destination and the total value of exports to the country in 2023 is US$ 58.4 million. Accordingly, considering the importance of a free trade agreement between Sri Lanka and Malaysia, the Cabinet has approved the proposal submitted by the President to initiate discussions for the same.
03. Import of selected spices for reprocessing and export for trades approved by Sri Lanka Board of Investment
Promulgation of Import Control Regulations under the Import and Export (Control) Act No. 01 of 1969 to provide opportunities for The Secretary, Investment, Ministry of Finance, Economic Stability and National Policy, Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policy, in the Cabinet meeting held on 18.03.2024 to review the Import and Export Control Regulations No. 2024/03 issued under the Import and Export (Control) Act No. 01 of 1969 and submit a report with details. Secretary, Ministry of Promotion and Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Horticulture have been notified.
The Cabinet has approved the proposal submitted by the President as the Minister of Finance, Economic Stability and National Policy to implement the following recommendations contained in the report submitted to the same.
• Providing opportunities for importation of selected spices for re-processing and re-export for trades approved by Sri Lanka Board of Investment under the re-export scheme for import of selected spices, refining and oil refining oleoresin and quotas.
• Promulgation of import only export control regulations under the provisions of the Import and Export (Control) Act No. 01 of 1969 for the above functions.
04. National Import Duty Policy of Sri Lanka
Maintaining a clear, simple, unified and determinable import duty system will be an important factor in maintaining a competitive environment for trade and investment in the country. Due to various policies introduced by the previous governments from time to time, the revision of the import duty policy has had an adverse impact on the competitiveness of our country for investment.
Considering the situation, a technical committee headed by the Director General of the Trade and Investment Policy Department of the Treasury has been appointed to prepare the tax policy in consultation with the Minister of Finance, Economic Stability and National Policy. The National Import Tax Policy has been prepared in consultation with the trade and industry communities under the guidance of experts on business activities and Secretaries of the Ministries concerned by the Committee.
The Cabinet has approved the idea submitted by the President as the Minister of Fiscal Economic Stability and National Policies to implement the said National Tax Policy under three phases starting from January 2025 and to gazette the policy on Sections 101 of the Customs Ordinance with a view to clarifying stakeholders and ensuring compliance.
05. Establishment of District Industries Council
Small, micro and medium scale industries, which are regionally constrained, are currently facing many problems. A need has been identified for a more appropriate, easily accessible and win-win system to create a fair environment to address these challenges.
For this, there is a need to establish strong linkages, networking and promotion among all the concerned institutions to enable quality and efficient institutional collaborations and services at the regional level for micro, small and medium scale industries through a multidisciplinary and integrated approach.
Accordingly, the Cabinet has approved the idea submitted by the Minister of Industries to establish 25 “District Industries Promotion Councils” covering all the districts, to determine the structural responsibilities and responsibilities of the said councils and to appoint an action committee with representatives from the government sector, private sector and other relevant organizations to monitor the overall process.
06. Acquisition of the land on which the Kambalay Old Court building block is situated to the City Development Authority
It has been decided in the Madhya Pradesh Coordinating Committee meeting to modernize the old court building located on the land found in the old court building block of Kampala without demolishing it and to develop the said complex as a vehicle park.
Approval has been obtained from the Management Council of the Urban Development Authority for the implementation of mixed development schemes of the said land.
Accordingly, considering the proposal submitted in this regard, the cabinet has given approval to hand over the land located in the old court building block of Kampala to the Urban Development Authority for the implementation of the public parking lot and mixed development scheme under the Kampala City Development Plan, on the basis that the value determined by the Government Chief Appraiser will be paid to the Consolidated Fund.
07. Signing of the Joint Agreement on Accession of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the World Trade Organization
The Republic of Uzbekistan has been negotiating with other member countries for many years to become a member of the World Trade Organization. A working group has been appointed by the General Assembly of the World Trade Organization to consider the application and submit recommendations to the General Assembly along with a joint draft for accession.
With the aim of exporting tea, Sri Lanka is also a member of the said working group and the officials of Sri Lanka have discussed with the officials of Uzbekistan in this regard and reached an initial stage agreement on very low trade tariffs for tea products expected to be exported to the country.
Accordingly, Uzbekistan has to sign a “Joint Agreement on Accession” with Sri Lanka, a member of the Working Group, to confirm the bilateral talks on WTO arrangements. The Cabinet has approved the proposal submitted by the Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security for signing the agreement
08. Bill to establish Sri Lanka Institute of Food Science and Technology
The Cabinet has approved the drafting of a bill to establish the Sri Lanka Institute of Food Science and Technology. Accordingly, the legal source has been prepared by the lawyer and several amendments have been proposed by the law minister to the said legal source. The Cabinet has approved the idea submitted by the Minister of Agriculture and Horticulture to advise the legislator to speed up and complete the work of preparing a bill to establish the Sri Lanka Institute of Food Science and Technology incorporating the said amendments.
09. Amending the Penal Code to strengthen the legal provisions to prohibit sexual harassment and sexual harassment
The Cabinet meeting held on 12.12.2022 has given approval to introduce amendments in the Penal Code to criminalize all types of sexual harassment and harassment including sexual harassment and sexual harassment in public places. Accordingly, the legal source prepared by the lawyer has been approved by the Law Chancellor. The Cabinet approved the proposal submitted by the Minister of Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms to gazette the Bill and then submit it for Parliamentary approval.
10. Submission of new Immigration Bill to Parliament
Although the Immigration and Emigration Act No. 20 of 1948 has been amended on several occasions, considering the international trends such as rapid changes in the fields covered by the said Act, rapid advancement of technology, approval has been given in the Cabinet meeting held on 2021.02.15 to introduce the new Act.
Accordingly, the legal source prepared by the lawyer has been approved by the Law Chancellor. The Cabinet has approved the proposal submitted by the Public Security Minister to publish the said Bill in the Government Gazette and then submit it for Parliamentary approval.
11. Amending Consumer Affairs Authority Act No. 09 of 2003
The Cabinet meeting held on 05.02.2023 has given approval to amend the Consumer Affairs Authority Act No. 09 of 2003. Accordingly, observations of the Attorney General have been submitted to the draft law prepared by the lawyer. Based on the observations, the Cabinet approved the idea submitted by the Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security to advise the legislator to expedite and complete the preparation of the said bill.
12. Award of Long Term Contract for Purchase of Petrol 92 Unl 05 Ship Stock
Quotation has been requested from the distributors registered with the Corporation for the supply of 92 Unl Petroleum Balls 1.5+/- 5% Millions to Sri Lanka Petroleum Corporation for 06 months from 15.07.2024 to 14.01.2025. Permanent Acquisition Committee appointed by Cabinet under the recommendation of Permanent Technical Assessment Committee M/s Aditya Birla Global Trading (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. is advised to provide. Accordingly, the Cabinet has approved the proposal submitted by the Minister of Power and Power to grant access to the said company.
13. Promulgation of new regulations under section 22 of the Foreign Exchange Act No. 12 of 2017
A regulation under Section 22 of the Foreign Exchange Act No. 12 of 2017 has been enforced with effect from 04.02.2020 to stabilize the country’s financial situation by temporarily suspending and restricting the outflow of remittances for certain capital transactions carried out by residents during periods of low foreign exchange reserves in the country.
The validity period of the said Ordinance is continuously published from time to time with a period of 06 months and the existing Ordinance is valid upto 19.06.2024. The Central Bank has proposed to issue a new regulation for a period of 06 months with effect from 20.06.2024 under Section 22(1) of the Foreign Exchange Act No. 12 of 2017 to further remove/relax certain suspensions and restrictions to provide facilities to resident companies to expand their business activities abroad.
Accordingly, the Cabinet has approved the idea submitted by the President as the Minister of Finance, Economic Stability and National Policy to issue an order under Section 22(1) of the Foreign Exchange Act No. 12 of 2017 to implement the said recommendation.
14. Annual Report on Final Budget Position of Ministry of Finance, Economic Stability and National Policies – 2023
Under Section 13 of the Financial Management (Responsibilities) Act No. 03 of 2003, a report on the final budget position is required to be published by the Minister of Finance, Economic Stability and National Policy to Parliament and the public within 05 months of the end of the financial year.
Accordingly, government fiscal policy, strategies and challenges in Sri Lanka’s economic management for the year 2023, economic trends for the year 2023, fiscal segmentation, fiscal segmentation, domestic question provision, investments and savings, foreign segment and financial segment developments, inflation and global economic trends.
The Cabinet has approved the proposal submitted by the President as Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies on 31.05.2024 to report on the final budget situation for the year 2023 including trends.
