The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by President Maithripala Sirisena to set up a National Border Management Committee to control tasks conducted across the border for maintaining national security.

Media Minister Gayantha Karunathilaka told the weekly media briefing here that border control was extremely important for any country's national security.

"People and goods exchanged across the Sri Lankan border is gradually increasing and it is expected that it will reach 10 million persons and 200 million kilograms of goods by 2020," Karunathilaka said.

"Hence, it is important to properly manage the tasks conducted across the border for maintaining national security, social style and economic prospect of the country," he added.

Accordingly, the proposal made by President Sirisena, in his capacity as the minister of defence, to establish a National Border Management Committee which is comprised of senior officers and policy makers of the government to act as the government's central body for assessment of risks, priorities, and aims in this regard, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers, the minister said.