FAOLEX Database

Sri Lanka - Country Profiles

Constitution of Sri Lanka.
Date of text: 1978 (31 October 2022)

Policies

Sri Lanka’s Third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0)(2026–2035).
Date of text: 22 September 2025
National Policy on Water Safety, 2024.
Date of text: 01 March 2024
National Policy on Drinking Water, 2024.
Date of text: 19 January 2024
National Policy on Climate Change (2023).
Date of text: 27 November 2023
National Policy on Green Procurement.
Date of text: 24 July 2023

Legislation

Agricultural and rural development

Agrarian Development Act, No. 46 of 2000.
Date of text: 18 August 2000
Intellectual Property Act, No. 36 of 2003.
Date of text: 12 November 2003
Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Act (No. 20 of 1999).
Date of text: 16 July 1999
Promotion of Export Agriculture Act, (No. 46 of 1992).
Date of text: 22 September 1992
Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy Act 1987 (No. 47 of 1987).
Date of text: 09 December 1987

Cultivated plants

Seed Act (No. 22 of 2003).
Date of text: 30 July 2003
Protection of New Plant Varieties Act (Breeder's Rights).
Date of text: 2001
Plant Protection Act, No. 35 of 1999.
Date of text: 07 October 1999
Regulation of Fertilizer Act (No. 69 of 1988).
Date of text: 17 December 1988
Control of Pesticides Act 1980 (No. 33 of 1980).
Date of text: 05 September 1980

Disaster risk management

Disaster Management Act, 2005 (Act No. 13 of 2005).
Date of text: 13 May 2005
Flood Protection Ordinance 1924 (No. 4 of 1924).
Date of text: 06 May 1924 (1955)

Environment

National Environmental Act 1980 (No. 47 of 1980).
Date of text: 1980
Coast Conservation Act, No. 57 of 1981.
Date of text: 09 September 1981 (30 November 2011)
National Innovation Agency Act, No. 22 of 2019.
Date of text: 15 November 2019
National Environmental (Protection and Quality) Regulations, No. 1 of 2008.
Date of text: 01 February 2008
Institute of Environmental Professionals, Sri Lanka (Incorporation) Act, No. 1 of 2020.
Date of text: 26 February 2020

Fisheries and aquaculture

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act 1996, No. 2 of 1996.
Date of text: 11 January 1996 (17 February 2016)
National Aquaculture Development Authority of Sri Lanka Act, No. 53 of 1998.
Date of text: 25 November 1998
National Institute of Fisheries and Nautical Engineering Act, No. 36 of 1999.
Date of text: 07 October 1999
National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency Act 1981 (No. 54 of 1981).
Date of text: 02 September 1981
Fisheries (Regulation of Foreign Fishing Boats) Act, No. 59 of 1979.
Date of text: 25 September 1979

Food and nutrition

Food Act No. 26 of 1980.
Date of text: 1980
Intellectual Property Act, No. 36 of 2003.
Date of text: 12 November 2003
Nutrition Society of Sri Lanka (Incorporation) Act (No. 5 of 1985).
Date of text: 09 January 1985
International Winged Bean (Dambala) Institute Act.
Date of text: 05 February 1982
Sugar Cane Research Institute.
Date of text: 29 December 1981

Forestry

Forest Ordinance (No. 16 of 1907 - Chapter 283).
Date of text: 02 January 1908 (1979)
Felling of trees (Control) Act.
Date of text: 15 March 1951
Forest Conservation (Registration of Timber Depots and Property Marks) Regulation No. 01 of 2014.
Date of text: 26 November 2014
Order on the Declaration of four forests within different Districts as Reserved and Conservation Forests, under the Forest Conservation Ordinance (Chapter 451).
Date of text: 24 April 2014
Order on the Declaration of four forests within different Districts as Reserved and Conservation Forests, under the Forest Conservation Ordinance (Chapter 451).
Date of text: 26 March 2014

Gender

Women Empowerment Act, No. 37 of 2024.
Date of text: 05 July 2024
Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act, No. 47 of 1956.
Date of text: 1956 (21 August 2006)

Land and soil

Land Reform 1972 (Law No. 1 of 1972).
Date of text: 26 September 1972 (1975)
Soil Conservation Act 1951 (No. 25 of 1951).
Date of text: 13 August 1951 (1953)
Land Acquisition Act 1950 (No. 9 of 1950).
Date of text: 09 March 1950 (1979)
State Lands Ordinance 1947.
Date of text: 1947 (01 September 1949)
Pasture Lands (Reservation and Development) Act (No. 4 of 1983).
Date of text: 27 January 1983

Livestock

Animal Diseases Act, No. 59 of 1992.
Date of text: 13 November 1992
Animal Feed Act, No. 15 of 1986.
Date of text: 1986
Animals Act, No. 29 of 1958.
Date of text: 1958 (30 November 1988)
Prevention of cruelty to animals Ordinance.
Date of text: 10 July 1907 (1955)
National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act, No. 5 of 2015.
Date of text: 19 March 2015

Mineral resources and energy

Sri Lanka Electricity Act, No. 36 of 2024.
Date of text: 27 June 2024
Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Act, No. 40 OF 2014.
Date of text: 04 November 2014
Mines and Minerals (Amendment) Act, No. 66 of 2009.
Date of text: 17 November 2009
Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority Act (Act No. 35 of 2007).
Date of text: 18 September 2007
Petroleum Resources Act (No. 26 of 2003).
Date of text: 09 September 2003

Sea

Marine Pollution Prevention Act, No. 35 of 2008.
Date of text: 24 October 2008
Merchant Shipping Act No. 52 of 1971.
Date of text: 25 January 1972 (28 October 1988)
National Hydrographic Act, No. 7 of 2024.
Date of text: 01 February 2024
Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Act, No. 17 of 2019.
Date of text: 02 October 2019
Ports and Airports Development Levy (Amendment) Act, No. 10 2012.
Date of text: 30 March 2012

Water

National Water Supply and Drainage Board Law, No. 2 of 1974.
Date of text: 01 November 1974
Irrigation Ordinance (Cap. 453).
Date of text: 01 November 1946 (1973)
Prevention of Mosquito Breeding Act, 2007 (Act No. 11 of 2007).
Date of text: 11 April 2007
Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka Act, No. 35 of 2002
Date of text: 20 December 2002
International Irrigation Management Institute Act No. 6 of 1985.
Date of text: 09 January 1985

Wild species and ecosystems

National Heritage Wilderness Areas Act (No. 3 of 1988).
Date of text: 04 March 1988
Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance, No. 2 of 1937.
Date of text: 10 March 1937 (20 April 2009)
National Zoological Gardens Act (No. 41 of 1982).
Date of text: 24 November 1982
Wildlife Protection Society Act.
Date of text: 22 June 1968
Fisheries Management (Collection of dead shells) Regulations, 2012.
Date of text: 19 October 2012

Miscellaneous

Anti-Corruption Act, No. 9 of 2023.
Date of text: 08 August 2023
Consumer Affairs Authority Act, No.9 of 2003.
Date of text: 17 March 2003
Cooperative Societies Law.
Date of text: 11 October 1972 (1974)
Economic Transformation Act, No. 45 of 2024.
Date of text: 09 August 2024
Divineguma Act, No.1 of 2013.
Date of text: 11 January 2013

International Agreements

Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on cooperation in the fishery sector.
Date of text: 24 March 2017
Memorandum of Understanding between Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China and Ministry of Agriculture and Land of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on the cooperation in the field of agriculture.
Date of text: 08 April 2005
Agreement between the State Environmental Protection Administration of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Forest and Environment of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on Cooperation of Environmental Protection.
Date of text: 18 December 1998

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