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This week’s Cabinet decisions – Sri Lanka Mirror – Right to Know. Power to Change
Steps to implement the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on ‘Construction of four-storied Medical Ward Complex at District General Hospital, Mullaitivu’, with grant assistance of SLR 600 million from Government of India have been initiated. The MoU was signed and exchanged by the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka – Santosh Jha, and Acting Secretary, Ministry of Health and Mass Media – Dr. W.K. Wickremasinghe, coinciding with the visit of the Vice President of India – Shri. C.P. Radhakrishnan, to Sri Lanka from 19-20 April 2026. The project envisages civil construction of a four-storied Medical Ward Complex at District General Hospital (DGH), Mullaitivu, equipped with modern amenities and essential infrastructure including installation of life, air conditioning system, fire generator and UPS system, fire protection and piped medical gas supply system. The proposed medical ward complex aims to combat premature mortality due to Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) by significantly increasing the screening rate of people over 35 years of age and reduce the referrals to other hospitals considerably. Upon completion, the bed occupancy rate at the hospital is estimated to increase by more than 150%, significantly enhancing healthcare delivery in the district. This project is being implemented under the bilateral High Impact Community Development Project framework, under which 18 people-centric grant projects are currently being implemented across 25 districts of Sri Lanka. These initiatives are creating a tangible difference in the daily lives of people across diverse sectors such as housing, health, education, fisheries, transport, renewable energy, livelihood sustenance, agriculture, among many others.
Cabinet approves recognition of ‘Sri Lanka National Export Development Plan – 2026–2030’
Business Trade and investment facilitation upgrade seen as needed for SL Published 9 hours agoon 2026/05/12 South Korean Ambassador Miyon Lee (centre) addresses the forum. On her left is Pathfinder Foundation Chairman Ambassador (Retd) Bernard Goonetilleke. Sri Lanka should mainly focus on upgrading its trade and investment facilitation system while identifying the paramount importance of the issue, South Korean Ambassador to Sri Lanka Miyon Lee said. The bureaucratic matters—from Customs clearance to tariff lines, licensing, and registration—should be streamlined, she said at a round table forum recently held at the Colombo Club of the Taj Samudra, Colombo. The forum was organized and conducted by the Pathfinder Foundation Sri Lanka and was presided over by its Chairman, Ambassador (Retd) Bernard Goonetilleke. Ambassador Lee said that the Sri Lankan government and companies must focus on tourism sector development and also find businesses opportunities with Korea. She also said that if Sri Lanka wants to attract Korean investment into Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka should highly develop its digital sector. ‘On top of that, If Sri Lankan is to sign a FTA or trade agreements, she should focus on niche markets to supply to Korean companies, she explained. Ambassador Lee added: ‘Korea is highly digital and AI enabled and Sri Lanka needs to concentrate on that as well. ‘Further, it is going to be very important if you will be able to implement all the obligations that are laid out under a WTO agreement. ‘A single window is part of the overall trade architecture that Sri Lanka has to follow. ‘ I think that also follows with the FTA (Free Trade Agreement) negotiations. From Korea’s experience, when we had the financial crisis in 1997, we only pursued WTO negotiations. FTA negotiations came after the financial crisis. ‘The Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) is important in this regard. ‘The APTA arrangement includes China, India, Korea, Nepal and Mongolia and 50 percent of Sri Lankan exports to South Korea benefit from the APTA. ‘But other than that, there is not much trade between the two countries. That’s why I think it is going to be very important for Sri Lanka to pursue the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) arrangement. ‘Unfortunately, there is not much appetite for upgrading the APTA because we already have separate FTAs with India and China. ‘ We have huge investments in India and in ASEAN countries. I think it would be very important that Sri La...
UNICEF Sri Lanka Statement on Cabinet Approval of the Global Charter on Child Care Reforms
Colombo, 7 May 2026— UNICEF welcomes the Cabinet's approval on 4 May of the Global Charter for Child Care Reforms — a landmark decision that strengthens protection for children and builds momentum for Sri Lanka's existing Alternative Care Policy. Over the years, UNICEF has partnered with the Government of Sri Lanka to advance care reform.
Breaking news live updates, May 12: Government cancels NEET-UG 2026, re-exam to be held later; NSUI stages protest - The Times of India
Breaking news live updates, May 12:
