Cabinet Decisions

Agreement between Sri Lanka and Vietnam on educational cooperation

The agreement for cooperation in developing the higher educational sector between Sri Lanka and Vietnam was in effect from 2011 to 2015.

To further develop this cooperation the two parties have agreed to implement the said agreement for the period 2016-2020 with relevant amendments.

Accordingly, the proposal made by Higher Education and Highways Minister Lakshman Kiriella, to sign the new agreement between the Higher Education and Highways Ministry in Sri Lanka and the Education and Training Ministry in Vietnam, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Programme of student and teacher exchange for industrial skills between SL and Germany

The College of Technology (BBS III) in Mainz, Germany has agreed to implement a programme for exchange of students and teachers with the Department of Technical Education and Training under the purview of the Ministry of Skills Development and Vocational Training.

Accordingly, the proposal made by Skills Development and Vocational Training Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, to sign a MoU between the Department of Technical Education and Training and College of Technology (BBS III) in Mainz, Germany in this regard, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Continuation of ‘Sukhitha Purawara’ township development programme in 2017 and commencement of new projects

Under the Sukhitha Purawara programme implemented by the Megapolis and Western Development Ministry, 64 construction contracts have been awarded in 2016, covering the whole island.

The proposal made by Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, to implement projects in the financial year 2017, which could not be completed within 2016 due to reasonable factors and new projects which have been identified for 2017, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Implementation of special project proposals for tea small holders, upcountry region

Around 73% of tea estates in Sri Lanka belong to tea small holders and 17% of them are situated in the upcountry region. In resolving social and economic issues faced by tea small holders, rehabilitation of rural roads and implementation of livelihood development projects for stabilising their income is crucial.

Accordingly, the proposal made by Plantation Industries Minister Navin Dissanayake, to rehabilitate 200 rural access roads in Nuwara Eliya, Kandy and Matale Districts and to implement a greenhouse pilot project for enabling them to gain an additional income through vegetable, fruits and flower plantation, and a supplementary infrastructure project for tea small holdings, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Amendments to the prevention of Crimes ordinance

Currently finger prints could only be obtained regarding offences which are listed under the above ordinance. A bill has been drafted to amend the above ordinance making provisions for obtaining finger prints for new offences by including them in the relevant schedule and to issue an order by the courts to keep an accused person under the supervision of the police in case a suspended sentence is imposed on a person whom previous conviction is proved until the expiry of suspended sentence.

Accordingly, the proposal made by Justice Minister Wijayadasa Rajapaksa, to publish the said bill in the gazette and subsequently present in parliament for approval, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Implementation of Hasalaka Water Supply Project

The above project expects to provide 12,500 new connections covering 33 Grama Niladhari Divisions and it will benefit a population of about 49,370.

The proposal made by City Planning and Water Supply Minister Rauff Hakeem, to implement the above project as recommended by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Management and Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Supply of Hypodermic syringes required in government hospitals

The proposal made by Health Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Minister. (Dr.) Rajitha Senarathne, to award the above contract as recommended by the Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee and Procurement Appeal Board, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Procurement of surgical consumables

The proposal made by Health Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Minister. (Dr.) Rajitha Senarathne, to award the above contract as recommended by the Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Construction of new court buildings

Construction of new court buildings has become an essential matter as many of the buildings are old and the space in current buildings are insufficient as the number of trials have increased in line with the population increase.

Accordingly, the proposal made by Justice Minister Wijayadasa Rajapaksa, to construct new court buildings giving priority to courts in Gampola, Ruwanwella, Mankulam, Mullaitivu, Jaffna, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Procurement of equipment for STF troops attached to UN peacekeeping operations

The proposal made by Law and Order and Southern Development Minister Sagala Ratnayake, to procure required goods and equipment on the above purpose, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Acceleration of programme for providing houses for low and middle income families

It is expected to build 620,000 houses by 2019 under the above programme. The proposal made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, to establish a Special Task Unit under the General Treasury and to establish a Land Bank for lands allocated to the said unit, for affirming that the above programme is implemented within the scheduled time frame, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Agreement for establishment of joint commission on cooperation between SL and Ethiopia

The proposal made by Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera, to sign the agreement on the establishment of the above commission during his upcoming official visit to Ethiopia, with the view of promoting and re-strengthening political, economic, technological and cultural cooperation based on principles of equality and mutual advantage, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Lanka Government Network 2.0 – Award of contracts for service providing

The above project is implemented by the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) for providing high-speed and secure internet connections to public institutions for providing uninterrupted public services.

The proposal made by Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure Minister Harin Fernando, to award the service providing contract to Sri Lanka Telecom as recommended by the Cabinet Appointed Negotiating Committee, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Financing for road development authority of Sri Lanka

The government has identified the Central Expressway Project as one of its priority projects for promoting economic affairs in the country through improving connectivity among various regions.

Accordingly, the proposal made by Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, to obtain funds of Rs. 23.2 billion for the RDA for construction of phase II of the Central Expressway Project from the National Savings Bank and People’s Bank as loan facilities, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.