CABINET DECISIONS

DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE CABINET AT ITS MEETING HELD ON 17-10-2017

Making provisions for controlling election related expenses

It has been observed that spending money without a limit on elections by parties, or individuals impacts the free will of the public. Many countries including India has made legislation for controlling such expenses and the Elections Commission has informed that the need of such control has been agreed after negotiating with Secretaries, representatives of political parties and lawyers.

Accordingly, the proposal made by President Maithripala Sirisena, to amend existing election laws and to make new provisions for controlling unlimited spending of money on elections, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Sri Lanka and Nepal MoU on youth development

The proposal made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, to sign the above MoU giving concerning priority aspects of youth development, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Expanding and improving of child day care facilities

The proposal made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, to appoint a committee comprised of representatives from public sector, provincial councils, non government and private sectors, to look into the above matter, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Currently, about 24,000 children are admitted to 1,200 day care centres in the country according to a survey and improving these facilities will impact in improving the women labour contribution which is currently estimated as 36 percent.

MoU on conservation of migratory sharks

The proposal made by Sustainable Development and Wildlife Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, to sign the above MoU at the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of the Migratory Species of Wild Animals, scheduled to be held from October 22 to 28, 2017, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Sri Lanka is a member of the said convention since 1993 and is bound to protect such migratory species within Sri Lankan region.

Proposals made by the Minister of  Disaster Management

Following proposals made by Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa were approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

(i). Making relief to people affected by fry spell

Government is already providing a dry ration to 740,000 families in 19 districts and cabinet approved to continue the relief programme and to allocate required funds.

(ii). Implement a project within next 04 years to reduce the landslide risk by taking disaster minimizing steps including following.

•  Technological tools to early identification risk
• Strengthening of slopes
• Management of surface and underground water flows
• Training
•  Awareness programmes
• Construction of temporary detention centres

Proposals by Minister of Megapolis and Western Development

Following proposals made by Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka were approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

(i). Implement a project for reconstruction of Public Market Complexes in Kollupitiya, Bambalapitiya, Borella, Nugegoda, Maharagama, Dehiwala, Mount Lavinia, Moratuwa and Katubedda by the UDA and relevant Local Government Institution.

(ii). Acquire a land lot for construction of a sewerage system for 'Walk Up' Housing Complex which is under constructions under the Urban Regeneration Project.

(iii). Development of the waste dumping land of about 07 acres with a high market value situated in Peliyagoda area which is owned by the UDA.

Small scale solar power plants establishment under Suryabala Sangramaya Programme – Stage II

CEB has affirmed that 90 projects of 1 Mw can be allowed under the stage II and accordingly, the proposal made by Power and Renewable Energy Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, to call for proposals in this regard with relevant amendments to criteria followed in stage I, to improve the competition, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Establishment of a Operating Office of  International Rice Research Institution in Sri Lanka

The proposal made by Agriculture Minister Duminda Dissanayake, to sign a MoU between IRRI and Rice Research Institution of Sri Lanka for establishment of the above office in RRI in Bathalegoda, for obtaining assistance in improving harvest for future food needs, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Conservation and Management of  River Basins

Conservation and management of river basins has become essential with the threats faced by them with harmful human activities.

Accordingly, the proposal made by Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Wijith Wijayamuni Zoysa, to implement above programme in a participant approach, and to prepare a method representing all relevant ministries and institutions in this regard, was approved as a principle by the Cabinet of Ministers.

State Vesak Festival - 2018

The Cabinet of Ministers has granted the approval to hold the State Vesak Festival in 2018 which marks the 2562nd Buddhist Year at Historic Bingiriya Rajamaha Viharaya in Kurunegala District and to declare the week which the Vesak Full Moon Day falls as the Vesak Week, as per the proposal made by Buddha Sasana Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera.

Rules for regulating small commercial vessels enacted under Merchant Shipping Act No. 52 of 1971

The proposal made by Ports and Shipping Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe to present the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2017/31 dated 04.05.2017, which includes above regulations, in parliament for approval, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Land title and proper houses for estate community

The government expects to provide houses with proper title deeds for plantation communities at the end of this year. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hill Country New Villages, Infrastructure and Community Development Minister U. Palani Thigambaram, to release lands which these housing projects are being implemented from regional plantation companies, for providing title deeds for houses which have already been granted on temporary basis, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Construction of a new prison room in Mannar area

Currently suspects in Vavuniya prison has to be taken to Mannar Courts by travelling 85 km and are detained temporarily in a room of Customs Department with minor facilities and accordingly, the proposal made by Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs Minister D. M. Swaminathan, to construct a new prison room at Uduppukulama (South) Grama Niladhari Division near the Mannar Courts Complex, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Agreement between Sri Lanka and South Korea on economic cooperation

The proposal made by Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama, to sign the above agreement during the state visit of President Maithripala Sirisena in South Korea which is scheduled to be in November this year, on the fields of investment partnership, trade relations, tourism promotion, and industrial cooperation, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Award of contracts of the Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine

Following proposals made by Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, for awarding following contracts, were approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

(i). New building for clinics at Ragama Rehabilitation Hospital

•  to M/s. Link Engineering (Pvt.) Ltd.
• Cost: LKR 195 million
• (ii). Construction of a Renal Treatment Unit in Batticaloa Teaching Hospital
•  to M/s. Nuwani Constructions (Pvt.) Ltd.
•  Cost: LKR 383 million

(iii). Construction of proposed Medical

Ward Complex in Chilaw District General  Hospital

• to State Engineering Corporation.
•  Cost: LKR 583 million

Commercial, Recreational and Environmental improvements at proposed Multimodal Transport Hub at Makumbura

The proposal made by Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, to perform above tasks through Land Reclamation and Development Corporation, using funds of the UDA, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Procurement of Cylinder Lubricant Oil for Barge mounted Thermal Power Plant

The proposal made by Power and Renewable Energy Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, to award the above contract to N. M. Distributers (Pvt) Ltd. to Rs. 295.40 per litre of Cylinder Lubricant Oil and Rs. 253.83 per litre of system lubricant oil, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Special disaster management plan implementation in areas affected by Uma Oya Multipurpose Development  Project

The proposal made by President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment, to implement the above plan to manage the upcoming North east monsoon and to act if a disaster situation occurs and to establish a special Disaster Management Centre in Bandarawela Town in this regard, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Agreement between Sri Lanka and Qatar on cooperation in energy field

The joint proposal made by Petroleum Resources Development Minister Arjuna Ranatunga, and Power and Renewable Energy Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, to sign the above agreement during the state visit of the President in Qatar to be done in due course, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka and Foreign Ministry of Qatar Agreement on cooperation in diplomatic training and research field

The proposal made by Foreign Affairs Minister Thilak Marapana, to sign the above agreement during the state visit of the President in Qatar to be done in due course to strengthen diplomatic relations started in 1976, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Sri Lanka and Qatar Agreement on bilateral cooperation in Water Supply and Waste Water Management field

The proposal made by City Planning and Water Supply Minister Rauff Hakeem, to sign the above agreement during the state visit of the President in Qatar to be done in due course, for obtaining assistance of Qatar in projects to be implemented in Puttalam and Ampara Districts, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.