The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the National Implementation Plan for 2026 - 2028 under the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. The Compact is the first United Nations framework negotiated among Member States to comprehensively address all aspects of international migration. Sri Lanka endorsed the Compact. In addition to facilitating overseas employment opportunities for Sri Lankan workers, the Compact provides guidance to maximise the positive benefits of migration, including skills development and increased foreign remittances. It also supports efforts to combat migration-related crimes such as human trafficking and the smuggling of migrants. An implementation committee was established in 2021 under the joint leadership of the then Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Labour and Foreign Employment Ministry to oversee the implementation of the Compact. The committee prepared the country's first Plan in 2022. However, the implementation of the Plan was delayed due to the economic crisis. The committee was reconstituted in 2025 and, following consultations with all the relevant stakeholders, prepared a new Plan. Accordingly, the Plan, submitted by the Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister, received Cabinet approval.
Land mechanism for cyclone resettlement
The Cabinet has approved a mechanism for allocating land to resettle families displaced by Cyclone Ditwah. Resettlement is currently underway for families whose homes were completely destroyed, as well as those living in areas identified as being at high risk of landslides. Since State-owned land alone is insufficient to meet the demand, the Cabinet approved several measures proposed by the Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation Minister to facilitate the acquisition and allocation of land. Under the approved mechanism, where land previously granted to individuals under State land permits is identified as suitable for resettlement, the permit holder will be compensated for the value of any developments on the land by the relevant Divisional Secretary, after which the land may be lawfully reallocated to another eligible person within the same income category. Privately owned land donated to the Government for resettlement will first be formally transferred to the State through a deed of gift under the State Lands Ordinance. The Government will then obtain a declaration from the donor waiving compensation under the Land Acquisition Act before registering State ownership and proceeding with resettlement. Where affected families have no suitable land of their own and land cannot be provided through the above arrangements, they will be allocated a plot of up to 10 perches from State land or land donated to the Government. Ownership will subsequently be granted under Section 2 of the Ordinance.
Vehicle inspection rules to be tabled
The Cabinet has approved a proposal to present the Motor Vehicles (Inspection) Regulations, No. 03 of 2026 to Parliament for approval. The move follows a series of serious road accidents in which investigations by Motor Vehicle Examiners found that mechanical defects in vehicles had contributed to the crashes. The new regulations seek to introduce a formal vehicle roadworthiness inspection system for passenger transport services regulated by the National Transport Commission, the Provincial Road Passenger Transport Authorities and the Transport Board. The system will also cover school transport services, office transport services and vehicles operated on hire for special trips. The Motor Vehicles (Inspection) Order, No. 03 of 2026 was published through Extraordinary Gazette, No. 2489/22 dated 19 May under the provisions of the Motor Traffic Act to provide the required legal framework. Accordingly, the proposal submitted by the Transport, Highways and Urban Development Minister to present the Order to Parliament received Cabinet approval.