October 05

Establishment of the

 Institute of Chartered 
Journalists of SL

The cabinet of ministers approved the proposal to establish the Institute of Chartered Journalists of Sri Lanka as an Institute of Media Higher Education, Research and Training which can provide undergraduate and postgraduate level study opportunities in the subject of Mass Media.  According to the proposal, that was presented by Media Minister Dullas Alahapperuma, the purpose of the institute is to provide practical training to journalists, media managers who are already working in the field of journalism as well as school children who aspire to enter the field of journalism and to develop their capabilities, enhance their professionalism and create a media culture with ethical autonomy. 

Indian assistance to 
Construct Smart 
Classrooms and Modern 
Computer Labs in 200 
Schools in Galle

The Indian government has agreed to provide financial assistance of SL Rs.300 million for the construction of smart classrooms and modern computer labs for 200 schools in the Galle District in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding signed on ‘Implementation of High Impact Community Projects’. Accordingly the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Minister of Education to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the Republic of India and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to obtain the relevant financial grant.

The Bill on the Prohibition 
of Obscene Publications  

Approval was given at the Cabinet meeting held on 21st September 2020 to draft a bill in order to introduce a new law to deal with obscene publications produced through Information Technology and other media.  Accordingly, the Attorney General’s clearance has been received for the Bill that has been drafted by the Legal Draftsman.  Cabinet of Ministers have given their consent to publish the said Bill in the Government Gazette and subsequently submit it to the Parliament for approval  

Utilization of geological 
resources for
 development priorities  

The Presidential Task Force on Geological Resources has been established with the objective of estimating the volume of granite, sand, soil, gravel soil and clay required within the next five years for the development projects of the government, exploration of methodologies for supplying geological resources for the mentioned projects, simplifying the licensing process followed when utilizing geological resources required for the projects in the construction field and small livelihood activities, identification of lands that can be utilized for various development activities etc.  

MoU between Defence 
University of Sir John 
Kotelawala and the 
University of Massey, 
New Zealand  

The Cabinet has agreed to extend a Memorandum of Understanding between the University of Sir John Kotelawala and the University of Massey New Zealand again for five more years with effect from August 21, 2021.  A MoU for 5 years had been signed between the two universities from 12th August 2012.  No action had been taken to extend the said agreement after its expiration.   

Amendments to the 
Partition Act  

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal tabled by the Minister of Justice to amend the existing Partition Act on the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Partition Law, appointed by the Minister of Justice to make recommendations to amend the Partition Act to suit the present requirements in order to protect the relevant rights of the co-owners of a land and to avoid unnecessary delays and confusion and to advice the legal draftsman to prepare a Bill thereto.