Rajapaksa government to legalize marijuana?

Tuesday, 17 December 2013 

The Mahinda Rajapaksa government is looking at removing the ban on marijuana. Minister of Indigenous Medicine Salinda Dissanayake has told the media that he will submit legislation to parliament soon to seek to remove ban on marijuana.

He has said that marijuana has medicinal value and the ban should be lifted for its medical use.

The Minister has noted that the legislation has to be amended to lift the ban on the controlled substance.

He has said the Ayurveda Act will be amended to highlight the important medicinal value of marijuana and a committee has already been formed to make proposals to amend the Ayurveda Act.

According to Dissanayake, laws will also be put in place to ensure marijuana is grown only by doctors and the Ayurveda Commissioner will be authorized to monitor marijuana grown for medicinal purposes if the ban is removed.

THREE HOTEL PROJECTS INCLUDING THAT OF PACKER APPROVED; NO CASINO FACILITIES

December 17, 2013

A gazette notification was issued approving three hotel projects including that of James Packer but without gaming or casino facilities, the Deputy Minister of Investments Promotion stated.