{"id":49920,"date":"2016-11-27T04:21:21","date_gmt":"2016-11-27T08:21:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=49920"},"modified":"2016-11-27T04:21:21","modified_gmt":"2016-11-27T08:21:21","slug":"cabinet-approves-developmentbill-to-set-up-development-boards-for-northerneastern-wayamba-central-and-southern-provinces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=49920","title":{"rendered":"Cabinet Approves “Development”Bill to set up Development Boards for Northern,Eastern, Wayamba, Central and Southern Provinces."},"content":{"rendered":"

Govt Ministers at their weekly meeting late last month, gave approval to a far reaching piece of legislation titled Development (Special Provisions) Bill. It will now be published in the Government Gazette and presented in Parliament. Some changes suggested by President Sirisena, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake and Ports and Shipping Minister Arjuna Ranatunga will be moved at the Committee stage. Ministers have also been asked to forward suggestions, if any, to be considered for amendments.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The aim of the new law, according to the draft bill, \u201cis to facilitate the formulation of a national policy on all subjects including accelerated economic development of Sri Lanka.\u201d The Minister in charge (in this instance the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who is Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs), in consultation with the Chief Minister of the relevant province, could declare any area demarcated for economic development with the only exception being paddy lands. Such Development Areas will cover manufacturing, tourism, science and technology, logistics, business and service, hi-tech fisheries and hi-tech agriculture. Every order declaring such an area will be subject to parliamentary approval.<\/p>\n

The law will enable the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs to appoint \u201ca panel of eminent persons\u201d to be consulted by the President or the Prime Minister, from time to time, on formulation of national policy. A Policy Development Office is to be established with a threefold objective \u2013 (a) review the global economic, political, social and environmental developments and their impact on Sri Lanka, (b) revisit the existing policy of Sri Lanka and critically analyse it with a view to revitalising it to meet new challenges, and (c) ensure that the policy is in consonance with goals set by the Government.<\/p>\n

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An Agency for Development, to be set up under the proposed law, will be vested with 16 different objectives including \u201cmodernising the economy, promoting export of goods and services, ensuring consumer welfare and generating employment.\u201d As is clear, many of these functions are now the responsibility of different ministers.<\/p>\n

It will be the lawful responsibility under the proposed law for the Agency to give directions to the Board of Investment, the Sri Lanka Export Development Board, the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), the Civil Aviation Authority, the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, the Water Supply and Drainage Board and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau. Where the Board of Investment seeks to develop any venture in any such economic development zone, it shall make an application in that respect to the Agency and it may grant its approval. Similarly, where the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority seeks to develop any venture in any such economic development zone, it shall make an application in that respect to the Agency.<\/p>\n

The proposed law makes provision for the creation of a National Policy on Rural Modernisation (referred to as the Board) headed by the President and comprising the Prime Minister, Ministers in charge of the subjects of finance, the rural economy, land, development strategies and international trade, industries, agriculture, fisheries, plantation industries and animal husbandry, Chief Ministers of all provinces, seven members appointed by the President, the Managing Director and the Director responsible for policies. Regional Development Boards to be set up will ensure co-ordination of economic development plans.<\/p>\n

Five different Development Boards for the Southern, Wayamba, Central, Eastern and Northern Provinces are also being proposed under the new law. The new law also envisages the creation of an Agency for International Trade to be managed by a Board. It will comprise the Director General of Commerce, the Controller of Imports and Exports, the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board, the Chairman of the Tea Board, the Chairman of the Joint Apparel Exporters Federation, a representative of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, a representative of the Minister of Finance, a representative of the Joint Apparel Exporters Associations and six others appointed by the Minister.<\/p>\n

Among the functions tasked for the proposed Agency for International Trade are ones now handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The proposed law lays down that the Agency liaise with international organisations like the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC), Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi Sectoral, Technical and Economic Co-operation (BIMSTEC) and the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC).<\/p>\n

After the new law comes into effect, the draft makes clear, that the Urban Development Authority shall not exercise laws relating to them \u201cin such manner as will adversely affect the implementation of any plans, programmes or schemes approved. Similarly the Mahaweli Development Authority Act will also not apply in such \u201cmanner as will adversely affect the implementation of any plans, programmes or schemes approved under the new law. It also extends to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority and the Ceylon Tea Board.<\/p>\n

The proposed law has made provision to prevent prosecution against:<\/p>\n

(a) The Agency, Board or other institution for any act which in good faith is done, by such Agency, Board or other agency or other institution under this Act.<\/p>\n

(b) Any member, officer servant or agent of such Agency Board, or other institution for any act which is done, or purported to be done by him in good faith under this Act or on the direction of such Agency, Board or other institution, as the case may be.<\/p>\n

It is unlikely that the new Development (Special Provisions) Bill will be debated in Parliament in January. Once it is gazetted, two weeks\u2019 time will have to be allowed for any possible reference to the Supreme Court by members of the public. In January the six different subcommittee reports on constitution making will be subject to a two-day debate. Thereafter, the Central Bank bond issue is to come up for debate.<\/p>\n

The New Year 2017 will dawn with many challenges both for the Government and the media. If they choose to impose restrictions on the media, through a carrot and stick policy, one of appeasing and the other of opposing, the first test will come during the local government elections. <\/p>\n

Two years into office, there is no gainsaying that the present administration was swept to power with strong media support, electronic, print and social. Now they have become the enemy number one as different ministers speak in different voices, mostly influenced by their own agendas.<\/p>\n

Courtesy:Sunday Times<\/em><\/p>\n

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Govt Ministers at their weekly meeting late last month, gave approval to a far reaching piece of legislation titled Development (Special Provisions) Bill. It will now be published in the Government Gazette and presented in Parliament. Some changes suggested by President Sirisena, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake and Ports and Shipping Minister Arjuna Ranatunga will be …<\/p>\n

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