• Foreign Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris to head all three committees 
• Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardena, Industries Minister Wimal Weerawansa and Plantation Industries Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana will hold talks with China
• Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, Mass Media Minister Dullas Alahapperuma and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando with Japan and Youth Minister Namal Rajapaksa and Justice Minister Ali Sabry to discuss with Middle East countries 
• Cabinet Co-Spokesman Dullas Alahapperuma reveals fresh move is a joint effort of Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Industries Minister Wimal Weerawansa and appointed by President

The Government has appointed three separate Cabinet Sub-Committees to identify alternative methods to import essential food items, raw materials required for export-oriented industries and industrial goods.

Foreign Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris will head all three committees to hold discussions with key import countries such as China, Japan and the Middle East. The committee appointed to discuss imports with China include Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardena, Industries Minister Wimal Weerawansa and Plantation Industries Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana. 

The committee to discuss imports with Japan comprise; Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, Mass Media Minister Dullas Alahapperuma and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando, whilst the committee to hold discussions with Middle Eastern countries include Sports and Youth Minister Namal Rajapaksa and Justice Minister Ali Sabry. 

“This was a joint Cabinet effort. The Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Industries Minister Wimal Weerawansa tabled separate Cabinet proposals. The Finance Minister suggested appointing separate committees to hold discussions with the key import countries in a collective manner. Thus, the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa named the members relevant to the sub-committees,” Cabinet Co-Spokesman and Mass Media Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said at the post-Cabinet meeting media briefing yesterday.

The nominations to these sub-committees proposed by the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was approved unanimously by the Cabinet of Ministers on Monday.

Last week, the European Union (EU) called on Sri Lanka to lift import restrictions that prevent many European products from entering the local market. Sri Lanka too explained that temporary constraints were imposed on non-essential items, strictly as an interim measure, due to a foreign exchange shortfall resulting from the impact of the global pandemic. It was also pointed out that these measures are subject to continuous and progressive review.

Fresh moves by Govt. to ease cost of living