- During the 37th APRC session, President Ranil Wickremesinghe declared Sri Lanka’s chairmanship until 2026 and expressed the government’s commitment to enhancing the country’s status as a leading exporter of agricultural products through rapid sector transformation. He underscored the crucial role of agriculture in steering Sri Lanka through past economic challenges and identified agriculture and tourism as key sectors for the nation’s prompt recovery.
- Foreign Minister Ali Sabry engaged in a comprehensive discussion with Iranian counterpart Dr. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian during his official visit to Colombo. The talks addressed various concerns, with a focus on bolstering cooperation, particularly in the energy sector. Minister Sabry expressed their commitment to working closely and strengthening their partnership.
- The Cabinet gives approval to President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s proposal for the formulation of a comprehensive draft bill on child rights. The President, acting as the Minister of Women, Child Affairs, and Social Empowerment, has directed the Legal Draftsman to prepare the composite act, incorporating the rights outlined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child alongside existing legal provisions for child rights protection.
- Janaka Wakkumbura has been sworn in as the State Minister of Provincial Councils, Local Government and Environment before President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.
- The 14th round of negotiations between Sri Lanka and India on the Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) are scheduled to be held in New Delhi, in the first week of March 2024.
- The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is expected to hand over the proposals pertaining to the revision of electricity tariffs to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) within the next two days, Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera said.
- The Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara urges the management of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment and the Association of Licensed Foreign Employment Agencies to submit proposals and plans to completely stop sending Sri Lankan women overseas to work as housemaids.
- The Cabinet grants approval to take the necessary measures for the English language to be considered for conducting legal proceedings and maintaining records in certain courts in Sri Lanka.
- The Cabinet endorses a proposal to enhance maritime passenger transport between Sri Lanka and India. The approved measures include a reduction in deviation tax for passengers departing Sri Lanka on passenger vessels and ships to USD 5 and USD 20, respectively.
- Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announces the schedule for Sri Lanka’s Tour of Bangladesh 2024. The all-format tour will comprise of two test matches, three T20 matches and three ODI matches.
