What has the cabinet done during 2023?

• Janaka Suranga

• The total number of Cabinet memorandums presented by all ministries during the year 2023 was 2495
• 291- the highest number of cabinet papers- were presented by the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stability and National Policies
• A total of 2441 proposals were approved while another 54 were subjected to either amendments or rejection 

Clause 43 (1) of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka states; “There shall be a Cabinet of Ministers charged with the direction and control of the Government of the Republic, which shall be collectively responsible and answerable to Parliament.

When necessary, the subject cabinet minister should seek approval of the Cabinet of Ministers relevant to subjects and functions assigned therein. 

Decisions of national importance to the country are based on cabinet memoranda, which are papers presented for approval. It is of utmost importance for the public to remain attentive and mindful of such memoranda submitted to the Cabinet for approval by each ministry.

Details of Cabinet Papers presented by each ministry and those approved, received in response to a request made under the Right to Information Act, to the Cabinet Secretary are given below.  

Institution/Ministry	2023-01-01 to 2023-12-31
	Presented	Approved
Office of the President	102	102
Office of the Prime Minister	38	36
Ministry of Defence	64	62
Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies	291	288
Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government	96	94
Ministry of Fisheries	25	25
Ministry of Education	234	229
Ministry of Transport and Highways	181	176
Ministry of Mass Media	57	57
Ministry of Health	112	108
Ministry of Water Resources and Estate Infrastructure Facilities	48	48
Ministry of Agriculture	82	81
Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Resource Conservation	29	27
Ministry of Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms	131	128
Ministry of Tourism and Lands	81	71
Ministry of Plantation Industries	49	49
Ministry of Industries	52	50
Ministry of Urban Development and Housing	110	108
Ministry of Foreign Affairs	64	63
Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs	76	74
Ministry of Power and Energy	127	125
Ministry of Environment	34	34
Ministry of Irrigation	63	61
Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs	28	27
Ministry of Labour and Foreign Employment	39	38
Ministry of Public Security	39	39
Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Food Security	36	35
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation	140	140
Ministry of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment	16	16
Ministry of Technology	11	11
Ministry of Investment Promotion	40	39
Total	2495	2441

Accordingly, the highest number of cabinet papers -2910- was presented by the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies last year and out of those only 288 were approved.

The lowest number of cabinet papers was presented by the Ministry of Technology and all were approved. In addition, the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Ports Shipping and Aviation, Ministry of Justice Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms, Ministry of Urban Development and Housing, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Transport have submitted higher number of Cabinet papers while the   Ministries of Fisheries, Labour, Sports and Youth Affairs, Agriculture,   Environment Ministry and also the Ministry of Women Child Affairs and Social Empowerment have submitted lower number of Cabinet papers in the given period.

The number of cabinet memoranda presented to the cabinet of ministers during the first quarter of 2024 were 512 and out of those 505 were approved. Out of these, 67   were presented by the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies and another 51 were presented by the Ministry of Education. As such it is observed that the highest number of cabinet papers were presented by these two ministries.

It is the responsibility of the respective ministry secretaries   to obtain approval of the ministerial council for subjects and functions assigned to their own ministries or state ministries  fallen under their purview when those subjects are not empowered to authorities/institutions from the constitution or other written law or administrative regulation.

The kind of proposals presented for the approval of the Cabinet are:

1. Facts related to the compilation of national policy which had previously not been approved by a budget proposal or the Cabinet.

2. Proposals for compilation of a new Constitution/law or amendment of an existing law within the stipulated framework. 

3. Proposals pertaining to signing of agreements/memorandum of understanding on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka, with a foreign country/international organization/foreign agency.

4. Appointment of all procurement committees and awarding procurement as per the recommendation of those committees when procurements exceed the authority limits of the procurement committee specified in the government procurement guidelines manual. 

5. To request authority under special circumstances for the benefit of the nation when it is needed to deviate from provisions in the Establishment Code, Fiscal Regulation Manual, Procurement guidelines manual and prevailing procurement guidelines in government – private partnership projects.

6. Proposed Supplementary Estimates to the Parliament for urgent government affairs when monetary provisions allocated by the annual budget are insufficient or it cannot be postponed till the next budget.

7. To revise limits in advancement accounts stated in the third schedule of annual disbursement summary.

8. To obtain approval in principle and deciding facts in instances where it is appropriate to obtain in principle approval of the ministerial council as per provisions in clause 55(1) of the constitution pertaining to government officers. 

9. Appointing all department heads including Divisional Secretaries/ District Secretaries, their promotions, transfers, disciplinary actions and termination from service according to authority granted to the  Cabinet by Clause 55(2) of the Constitution.

10. When the  Cabinet becomes the authority to make appointments under any written law, perform those appointments.

11. Presenting to parliament the annual reports and account statements/annual performance reports of state corporations and statutory boards.

12. Presenting proposals for compromise/settlement when the government becomes a party in a judicial matter.

13. Presenting proposals to appeal when the government becomes a party pertaining to a court order.

14. Presenting proposals for compromise/settlement to resolve a dispute between two government institutions without going into legal process.

15. Proposals to inform the ministerial council regarding inability to execute a previously made decision of the ministerial council and to amend a previous decision of the ministerial council.