The agreement period of marketing and investment framework between Sri Lanka and Australia has been approved to be extended by another five years.

Australia is one of the key direct overseas investment stakeholders of Sri Lanka while being the 05th source of tourist destinations.

A marketing and investment framework agreement was signed between Sri Lanka and Australia in 2017 with the vision of promoting bilateral marketing and investment between the two countries.

The Cabinet has agreed to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Trade to extend this agreement for another five years from 10.10.2023 so that the marketing and investment cooperation can be continued uninterrupted as mentioned in the said agreement.

The Cabinet has decided to allocate necessary provisions to compensate the farmers affected due to bad weather in the Yala Season, the government said.

It said about 53,965 farmers were affected and 58,770 acres of paddy and other crops were damaged in the 2023 Yala Season as a result of the inability to provide sufficient water due to bad weather conditions.

The Cabinet approved a proposal made by the Minister of Agriculture regarding compensation to the affected farmers.

Approval has been received to prepare the National Land Commission Act for the establishment of a Land Commission in line with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

The Government Information Department said that in the 13th Constitutional Amendment, Schedule 9, List 1, Appendix II, provides for the establishment of a Land Commission.

Accordingly,  the Cabinet has approved a proposal by the Lands Minister to advise the Legal Draftsman to prepare a Bill based on the preliminary draft prepared for that purpose.