Sri Lanka's Cabinet has greenlit several major projects on Tuesday, including a Chinese-funded bridge reconstruction programme following Cyclone Ditwah, judicial reforms enabling remote witness testimony, and a new investment facilitation centre.
Sri Lanka's Cabinet of Ministers has approved a series of significant policy and infrastructure initiatives aimed at economic development and institutional modernization. Among the most substantial decisions, the government has accepted a Chinese financial grant of RMB 79 million to reconstruct 14 bridges damaged by Cyclone Ditwah across five provinces: Western, Sabaragamuwa, North Western, North Central, and Eastern. The reconstruction project will proceed in two phases, with the initial phase targeting completion within 18 months to repair nine bridges and restore critical regional transport links.
On the judicial front, the Cabinet has cleared an amendment to the Civil Procedure Code permitting courts to record witness testimony remotely via audio-visual technology from within Sri Lanka or abroad. According to Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, this extension of existing remote testimony provisions—previously implemented for criminal cases—aims to accelerate civil litigation proceedings. The draft amendment, already approved by the Attorney General, will proceed to Parliament following publication in the Government Gazette.
The government has also established a National Business Facilitation Centre under the Presidential Secretariat to reduce administrative delays in investment approvals. Jayatissa clarified that the centre is not intended to replace the Board of Investment but rather to coordinate approvals across multiple agencies including the Central Environmental Authority, Urban Development Authority, and Inland Revenue Department. A national steering committee comprising ministry secretaries will oversee cross-agency coordination.
Additionally, the Cabinet awarded security service contracts to seven companies for the National Savings Bank totalling 1,116.82 million rupees for a two-year period beginning October 2026. Separately, a trade delegation from Sri Lanka's Ceylon Chamber visited Australia to explore enhanced bilateral trade and investment opportunities across sectors including technology, fisheries, and logistics.
