The Sri Lankan government has approved a long-term contract for the procurement of six Murban crude oil tankers for the period from April 1, 2025, to August 31, 2025.

Bids for the procurement were invited from registered suppliers of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), with six bids received in response, the government said.

Following the evaluation by the Special Standing Procurement Committee appointed by the Cabinet, the proposal submitted by the Minister of Energy to award the contract to M/s Aditya Birla Global Trading (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. was approved. (Newswire)

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The Cabinet of Ministers has approved compensation of up to Rs. 100,000 per hectare for paddy farmers whose crops were destroyed by recent adverse weather conditions.

Similar compensation will also be provided for maize, chilli, potato, big onion, and soya farmers, under the 2025 crop insurance allocation, Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Nalinda Jayathissa said.

The Minister also gave a breakdown of plantations and irrigation schemes destroyed or damaged by the extreme weather conditions.

According to Agrarian Development Department data (as of December 2, 2024)

•⁠ ⁠Paddy fields: 91,300 acres completely destroyed; 86,225 acres partially damaged.
•⁠ ⁠Irrigation schemes: 173 minor schemes completely destroyed; 1,148 partially damaged.
•⁠ ⁠Vegetable plantations: Over 750 acres destroyed in Nuwara Eliya district alone.

The Department of Agriculture is working to supply seed paddy for short-term crops and 2 1/2 to 3-month paddy varieties to re-cultivate damaged fields, the Minister said. (Newswire)

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The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the extension of rice importation until January 10, 2025.

Cabinet Spokesman, Minister Nalinda Jayathissa said that the decision to extend the import permit was made yesterday during the Cabinet meeting.

“Accordingly, the private sector will be permitted to import rice until January 10, 2025, to ease the current shortage of rice,” the Minister said.

The previous import permit expired on December 20, 2024. A gazette notification regarding the extension is expected to be issued soon.

The Minister also acknowledged that there is a certain delay in the distribution of rice, adding that the government has intervened to make distribution efficient. (Newswire)

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Over 300 locally manufactured medicines and medical supplies are set to be procured following Cabinet approval for a one-year period.

Cabinet Spokesman Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said that this decision, initially approved on 14 October 2024, aims to source medical supplies from identified local manufacturers.

The Ministry of Health and Mass Media has compiled four categories of suppliers, the State Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Corporation (SPMC), joint venture partners with SPMC, buy-back agreement holders with the Ministry, and other non-contracted local manufacturers.

Following recommendations from the Cabinet-appointed Standing Procurement Committee, the proposal by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to award these procurements has been approved.

• To award the procurement for the supply of 42 types of medicines to the State Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Corporation for a sum of Rs. 5,398.83 million.
• To award the procurement for the supply of 131 types of medicines to local manufacturers who have signed joint venture agreements with the State Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Corporation for a sum of Rs. 16,611.42 million.
• To award the procurement for the supply of 36 types of medicines to local manufacturers who have signed buy back agreements with the Ministry of Health and Mass Media for a sum of Rs. 9,022.10 million
• To award the procurement of 130 types of medicines to 24 newly selected local manufacturers for a sum of Rs. 13,374.65 million. (Newswire)

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