Sri Lanka to introduce new law in relation to rights of indigenous community

The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to the proposal to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a draft bill based on the improved fundamental draft in relation to introduction of a new law in relation to the rights of Sri Lankan indigenous community.

On May 22, the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted to the joint proposal furnished by the then Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms and the Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs in relation to introduction of the new law.

At that meeting, it had been decided that it was appropriate to further analyze the concept paper furnished to prepare the draft bill with the participation of all parties concerned, the Cabinet Spokesman said. 

Accordingly, the relevant fundamental draft bill has been further improved subsequent to several rounds of discussions with the participation of officers in the Ministries of Lands, Wildlife and Forest Conservation, Environment as well as Finance along with the officers of the Attorney General’s Department, and the Department of Legal Draftsman along with the participation of stakeholders interested in the relevant sector headed by the Secretary to the Prime Minister. 

The Cabinet of Ministers has thereby granted approval to the proposal forwarded jointly by the Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms and the Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a draft bill based on the aforementioned fundamental draft.