[Cabinet Decisions]-15.01.2016 | Daily News

[Cabinet Decisions]-15.01.2016

Programme for Management of Hazardous Wastes and Chemicals emitted to the Environment

The proposal made by President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Mahaweli Development and Environment Minister, to combine following four projects and implement as a single project under the Mahaweli Development and Environment Ministry within 2016-2020, with the view of managing hazardous chemicals and wastes to minimize their impact on the environment and to appoint a Project Steering Committee comprised of representatives from relevant institutions to operate and supervise project activities, was approved by the Cabinet .

* Management and disposal of equipment that contains polychlorinated biphenyl in Sri Lanka in an environmental friendly manner.

* Building of the background for ratification of Minamata Convention on Mercury and take necessary action in achieving its objectives.

* Project for the action plan for management and minimising of polybrominated diphenyl ethers.

* Environment friendly production and recycling of lead acid batteries in Sri Lanka.

Introduction of guidelines for construction and maintenance of buildings in public and semi-government institutions as environment friendly green buildings

Many buildings are constructed in the current development process and it is essential to build them environmental-friendly. The concept of green buildings have been introduced to make a healthy environment in buildings and to minimise the use of utilities such as energy and water. That enables to build a healthy, pleasurable environment by minimising the emission of green house gases. Development process of Sri Lanka has been planned to be implemented in an environmental-friendly manner and to minimise the impact on the environment from the construction field. It has been proposed to construct green buildings in Sri Lanka from 2016 to achieve these targets and as its first step buildings of public and semi-government institutions are to be constructed as green buildings. The proposal made by President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Mahaweli Development and Environment Minister, to appoint a committee of officials to investigate the code of guidelines which has been already prepared in this regard and to prepare an action plan, was approved by the Cabinet.

Proposal to rationalise geographical boundaries in Sri Lanka

The smallest administrative unit of the Sri Lankan administrative system is the Grama Niladhari Division. At present there are 14,021 Grama Niladhari Divisions which have been combined with 331 Divisional Secretariats and 25 Districts. However, as some institutions are being acted regardless of these boundaries and with their own regional units, people who are expecting services from these institutions had to face several difficulties. As an example, 160 polling divisions, 336 local authorities, 340 divisions of Medical Officers of Health (MOH), and 311 Educational Divisions are being operated at present. The proposal made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the National Policies and Economic Affairs Minister, to prepare a programme to remove these contradictions by deciding every administrative unit depending on Grama Niladhari Divisions by the Home Affairs Ministry and the National Policies and Economic Affairs Ministry, with the participation of all parties, was approved by the Cabinet.

Preparation of an Act on Sustainable Development

Sustainable development means the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. 17 sustainable development goals have been adopted by the global community specially covering recognised fields and sectors that should be gained at 2030 and the government is also bound to it. Hence, the proposal made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the National Policies and Economic Affairs Minister, to draft legislation to make statutory provisions in achieving sustainable development goals, was approved by the Cabinet.

Accession to the Protocol to eradicate illegal trade in tobacco products

Sri Lanka was the first in Asia and fourth in the world to enter into the above protocol in 2003. Tobacco products cause many non-communicable diseases such as heart diseases. It has been revealed that a considerable illegal trade of tobacco products carried out in the country. It seems dome underaged persons and members of low income families tend to uses these cut-price products which is a severe threat to their health. It would help in implementing a fruitful tobacco prevention mechanism by accessing to the said protocol. The proposal made by Health and Indigenous Medicine Minister, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, for accession to the above protocol, was approved by the Cabinet.

Relocation of Manning Market in Fort at Peliyagoda area

Colombo, Fort have been recognised as a combined development zone under the Colombo City Development Plan (2008-2020) prepared by the Urban Development Authority. Hence, the old St. John Fish Market has been re-established in Peliyagoda and the Vegetable and Fruit Stock Trade Centre is also to be relocated in Peliyagoda and the present Manning Market premises is to be used for provision of public transportation facilities. Accordingly, the proposal made by Minister Megapolis and Western Development Patali Champika Ranawaka, to relocate the said Manning Market in a land of 25 acres owned by the Urban Development Authority in Peliyagoda at an estimated cost of Rs. 4 billion, was approved by the Cabinet.

Construction of the proposed Commercial Complex of the Kalutara Town Centre Development Project

It is proposed to build a Commercial Complex with 140 commercial stalls and 39 office rooms, combining the bus stand and the railway station under the above project at an estimated cost of Rs. 200 million. The proposal made by Minister Megapolis and Western Development Patali Champika Ranawaka, to assume the construction to Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation, was approved by the Cabinet.

Strengthening of the Plantation Management Supervision Division

Ownership of lands of 465 large scale estates of Janatha Estate Development Board and Sri Lanka State Plantations Corporation which have been leased to private plantation companies is still with the government and affirmation of that right is done by the Plantation Management Supervision Division under the Plantation Industries Ministry. The proposal made by Plantation Industries Minister Naveen Dissanayake, to strengthen the Plantation Management Supervision Section to increase the productivity and quality of these plantations, was approved by the Cabinet.

The nearest school is the best school" National Programme (2016-2020), Intended to Create a Generation of students imbued with virtues, wisdom and vigour through development of a system of Smart Focal Schools

The above programme has been planned to achieve the goals of the five point education policy of the government under the theme of ensuring equity in education to create an aesthetically minded, creative, and philanthropic child who is imbued with virtues, wisdom and vigour for the process of uplifting education qualitatively and quantitatively. The proposal made by Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, to implement the above programme by developing 650 selected schools as one or two schools selected from a Divisional Secretariat Division, and to give local and foreign trainings to Principals and Deputy Principals for their capacity development, was approved by the Cabinet.

Commencement of a sustained programme of administrative reforms

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has revealed the government's midterm development plan at the parliament through the economic policy statement. An efficient, active and modernised government mechanism is vital to achieve its targets. A major factor caused the development of countries like Singapore and Malaysia was the existence of an efficient and modernised administrative mechanism. Accordingly, the proposal made by Special Assignments Minister Sarath Amunugama, to appoint a ministerial committee to introduce administrative reforms in this regard, was approved by the Cabinet.

Obtaining the service of external parties to undertake heavy repairs of carriages with the view of providing an efficient and comfortable railway service to the public

Approximately 450 carriages are required to provide the current service of the Department of Railways and these carriages must undergo a heavy repair in every two years. It is being done in the Ratmalana Railway Workshop. It has become difficult to perform sufficient amount of repairs due to the increase of carriages to be repaired. Accordingly, the proposal made by Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, to invite competitive bids from reputed local industrialists for undertaking heavy repairs of 200 nos. passenger coaches while the work of railway workers are continued, was approved by the Cabinet.

Award of tender for supply of 30,000 vials of Human Immunoglobulin for IV Use 5-6g Vial

Above vials are used in treating patients with immune deficiencies. The proposal made by Health and Indigenous Medicine Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, to award the above tender to the lowest responsive bidder as recommended by the Cabinet Appointed Standing Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet.

Award of tender to supply 150,000 vials of Meropenem Injection 500 mg vial and 310,000 vials of Meropenem Injection 1 g vial

The above injection is used to treat infections as an antibiotic and the proposal made by Health and Indigenous Medicine Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, to award the above tender as recommended by the Cabinet Appointed Standing Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet.

Award of tender for supply 20,000 vials of Human Immunoglobulin for IV Use 2.5-3.0g Vial

Above vials are used in treating patients with immune deficiencies. The proposal made by Health and Indigenous Medicine Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, to award the above tender as recommended by the Cabinet Appointed Standing Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet.

Award of tender to supply 210,000 vials of Enoxaparin Sodium Injection 4,000 IU in 0.4 ml prefilled syringe/vial and 322,500 Vials of Enoxaparin Sodium Injection 6,000 IU in 0.6ml prefilled syringe/vial

Above injection is used in treating patients with heart diseases. The proposal made by Health and Indigenous Medicine Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, to award the above tender as recommended by the Cabinet Appointed Standing Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet.

Awarding of consultancy services and construction contracts to government institutions

The Megapolis and Western Development Ministry has initiated the "Sukitha Purawara" town development programme to address major issues such as traffic congestion, parking, road safety, health, housing, recreational and economic issues occurred due to haphazard development in secondary cities in the Western Province. Accordingly, projects for developing strategically important towns in the Western Province are to be implemented at a cost of Rs. 6 billion in 2016. The proposal made by Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, to award recognised projects that can be performed immediately to government sector construction organisations or their subsidiary companies on design and build basis under the competitive bidding procedure, and to award contracts that may take some time due to reasons such as land acquisition to private sector consultants and contractors by following open competitive procurement procedure, was approved by the Cabinet.

Award of contract for construction of the Kataragama Circuit Bungalow for migrant workers

The proposal made by Foreign Employment Minister Thalatha Athukorale, to award the contract for construction of a Circuit Bungalow for the Foreign Employment Bureau at a cost of Rs. 141 million in Kataragama to the State Engineering Corporation, which is under the Housing and Construction Ministry, was approved by the Cabinet. 


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