Cabinet Decisions | Daily News

Cabinet Decisions

Extending time of Committee appointed to submit recommendations to formalise State bank system

The Cabinet approved appointing a committee to submit recommendations to formalize and make efficient the State banking system within three months to strengthen the national economy. The role of the committee could not be concluded as expected due to the situation prevailing in the country. Therefore, the Cabinet has approved the proposal submitted by the Prime Minister as the Finance Minister to extend the period of the committee for another three months commencing from November 18, 2020.

Extending regulation validity period issued under Section 22 of Foreign Exchange Act No. 12 of 2017 in regard to Foreign Exchange Outflow

The Cabinet approved at the meeting on June 24, 2020 to issue a regulation valid for six months under Section 22 of the Foreign Exchange Act No. 12 of 2017 to impose regulations to limit capital transactions causing flow of foreign exchange out of the country. The regulation mentioned has been imposed by the gazette notification dated July 2, 2020 and its valid period is to be ended from January 1, 2021. It is apparent the imposed period is appropriate to be extended from another six months. Therefore, the Cabinet has approved the resolution submitted by the Prime Minister as the Finance Minister for taking necessary actions on the matter.

Submitting gazette notifications to Parliament for approval

The Cabinet has approved the resolution submitted by the Prime Minister as the Finance Minister to submit six gazette notifications published under the Special Commodities Tax Act No. 48 of 2007, one gazette notification published under the Revenue Protection Act No. 19 of 1962 and one gazette notification on imposing a tariff surplus subject to the provisions of the Customs Ordinance applicable for imported fuel to Parliament.

Acquiescing ‘48 Watte’ - Singhapura Apartment Complex Project - to Urban Settlement Development Authority

Housing facilities under the Singhapura Apartment Complex Project has been provided under two phases on 0.4423 hectares in Wanathamulla in the Thimbirigasyaya Divisional Secretariat Division for 120 low -income families living amidst minimum facilities within the Greater Colombo Municipality.

The housing programme has been implemented by Real Estate Exchange (Pvt.) Limited under the Housing Ministry and has spent Rs. 174.15 million of budgetary allocations for the purpose. Therefore, the Cabinet approved the proposal of the Urban Development and Housing Ministry to transfer the land to the Urban Development Authority as a free grant to issue deeds to those low –income families that occupy the houses.

Polonnaruwa Administrative Complex

The Cabinet had approved at the meeting held on October 18, 2016 to construct the Administrative Complex of Polonnaruwa. The building being constructed under the Urban Development Authority and Rs. 1,018 million has been spent on the building. It has been planned to accommodate 19 government and semi–government institutions in this building complex. Another Rs. 265 million has been estimated to be spent to complete its construction by affixing air conditioner systems, generators, and to complete remaining work of the auditorium and landscaping. The Cabinet approved the proposal tabled by the Urban Development and Housing Minister to allocate provisions to the Urban Development, Coastal Conservation, Waste Disposal and Community Cleanliness State Ministry to complete construction of the building.

Relief for those affected due to Werasganga Rain Water Harvesting and Environment Improvement Project

The construction work of the Werasganga Rain Water Harvesting and Environment Improvement Project was inaugurated in 2013 to control flood in Colombo and suburbs, improve environmental systems, conserve wetlands, sanctuaries and expand the cannel system.

Actions have been taken to compensate 80 per cent of the valuation recommended by the Department of Valuation for the buildings and other constructions which have been affected by the project and to pay a housing rental to obtain transitional/temporary housing facilities for six months for those whose residences have been totally evacuated under the project. The lands for the project have been acquired by now and the construction work will be concluded by 2020.

The Cabinet approved the proposal by the Prime Minister as Urban Development and Housing Minister to pay further housing rental for those residing in transitional houses for an additional period until compensation is paid at a time the payment of statutory compensation decided for them is delayed more than six months due to unavoidable reasons and to pay 100 per cent of the total estimated amount recommended by the Department of Valuation for the housing constructions and other constructions which have been totally evacuated.

Increasing number of sports schools, developing their infrastructure facilities and increasing sports scholarship nutrition allowances and other allowances

Measures have been taken in 1989 to inaugurate sports schools in all districts. A programme has been planned collectively by the Education Ministry and the Sports Ministry to implement the concept more productively. The Cabinet approved the following consolidated resolutions submitted by the Education Minister and the Youth and Sports Minister.· To develop infrastructure facilities in 26 sports schools.·To develop the following schools as special sports schools. i. to inaugurate and develop a new bi-lingual national school, ‘Cricket Sports School’ at the Sooriyawewa International Cricket Stadium and enroll students to Grade VI from the year 2021.ii. To develop Pelwatte Navodya School as an athletic/volleyball sports school iii.To develop Mahinda Rajapaksa Vidyalaya, Pitipana for athletic games

iv.To develop Murunkan Maha Vidyalaya, Mannar for football/athletic games.· To construct new school hostels in the sport schools and develop the hostels · To increase the number of sports scholarships and other allowances.

National Policy for collecting data and Information classified by gender and age

Obtaining information on gender and age groups with the exception of a limited number of census and surveys by the Department of Census and Statistics and the health sector surveys has become an issue in the policy and planning. This information is essential to identify government-prioritised needs, especially in child and women's development, understanding their trends and determining plans and strategies to address them. The Cabinet, therefore, approved the proposal presented by the Education Minister to make it compulsory to collect information based on gender and age group in all census, surveys and studies conducted by Ministries, Departments and Statutory Institutions under their purview.

Driving licences and vehicle number plates to the client-public through a speed post courier service

The Vehicle Registration Certificate, vehicle number plates and a sticker are issued when registering a vehicle. To obtain them under the system, one has to come to the department spending considerable time and expense. There seems to be some delay in sending licences by registered mail to clients. As a solution, the Minister proposed to implement a programme in collaboration with the Postal Department to deliver them to clients’ home under an express courier service implemented by the Postal Department. The Cabinet approved the proposal.

Commemorative stamps for 50th Anniversary of Sri Lanka-Singapore Diplomatic Relations

The Department of Posts and the Singapore Institute of Post have agreed to issue two stamps each to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Sri Lanka-Singapore diplomatic relations. It is planned to create the stamps under the theme "Marine Biodiversity Conservation", a common theme for the two countries and to exchange 4,000 stamps and 1,000 commemorative leaflets between the two parties. The Cabinet approved the proposal by Mass Media Minister to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries.

Livestock development projects for 2021

The Livestock, Farm Promotion and Dairy and Egg Related Industries State Ministry plans to implement “Soubhagya” Dairy Development Programme and the "Dairy Development Centres" project in 2021 to increase local milk production.

Improving animal breeding, animal nutrition, animal health conditions and setting up eco-friendly farms through animal waste management are planned under the “Soubhagya” Dairy Development Programme. The Dairy Development Centres Establishment Project aims to develop the milk value chain by upgrading artificial insemination centers, providing inputs and training, and networking veterinary offices. The Cabinet approved the proposal by the Agriculture Minister to allocate provisions within the 2021-2023 Medium Term Budget Framework to implement these projects.

Improving and conserving National Art Gallery

The Cabinet approved on several occasions to renovate the National Art Gallery. Although approval has been given on August 21, 2018 to allocate Rs. 42 million for the purpose, the t renovations have not been made. The Art Gallery main building is in a dilapidated condition due to water leaking from the main gutter that was installed to drain the rainwater and it needs to be repaired immediately. The Cabinet approved the proposal by Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister to obtain the services of the Navy and carry out the repairs.

‘Suraksha’ Student Insurance 2020/2021

Proposals have been invited from government-owned insurance companies for the ‘Suraksha’ Student Insurance. Only Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation has submitted proposals in this regard. The Cabinet, therefore, approved the proposal by the Education Minister to award the procurement to the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation as per the recommendation of the Procurement Committee following the negotiations with the Insurance Corporation of Sri Lanka.

Contract to supply and distribute 2,000 km of Aerial Bundle Cable Alu (ABC) 230/400V3x70+54.6+ 26mm2

Competitive bids are called for supplying aerial bundle cables for distribution zone 2 of the Ceylon Electricity Board. The Cabinet approved the proposal by Power Minister to award the contract to M/s ACL Cables PLC institute upon the recommendation of the Cabinet appointed Standing Procurement Committee.

Contract to import petrol for eight months from December 1, 2020 to July 31, 2021

Bids are called from the registered suppliers of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation to import 1,564,500+10-5% barrels of petrol (Unl) and 535,500+10/-5% barrels of petrol (95 Unl) for eight months from December 1, 2020 to July 31, 2021. The proposal by the Energy Minister to award the contract to M/s BB Energy (Asia) (Pvt) Limited, Singapore, as recommended by the Standing Committee on Procurement appointed by the Cabinet, was approved by the Cabinet.

Kalutara New Court Complex

The Kalutara Court Complex is now on a land and in buildings that have an archeological value and the Justice Ministry has been given 1.064 hectares to build a new Court Complex under the Kalutara Urban Development Project. The proposal by the Justice Minister to offer the consultancy service of the construction to the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau, was approved by the Cabinet.

Committee to investigate irregularities in Grand Hyatt Project

The Grand Hyatt Hotel Project is implemented by the Sino Lanka (Pvt.) Limited, which is a subsidiary of the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation, Employees’ Provident Fund and Litro Gas Lanka Limited. The hotel was to open in the first quarter of 2016. Provided that most of the agreements signed by the previous government were terminated by the new board of directors of the Sino Lanka (Pvt.) Limited, which was appointed following the 2015 Presidential Election without any justifiable reason and has been entered into agreements with new contractors for the work phases. Several companies, therefore, have initiated legal proceedings and it has been decided that the Sino Lanka (Pvt.) Limited shall pay approximately 1.8 billion as compensation. The cost of the project, which was originally planned to be completed at an estimated cost of 30 billion rupees, is re-estimated to be around 60 billion rupees.

Approval was granted by the Cabinet for the proposal by the Prime Minister as the Finance Minister to appoint a committee to investigate whether the Government has incurred a financial loss as it appears that the situation has arisen due to the irregularities committed by the previous management of the Sino Lanka (Pvt.) Limited.

Contract to construct 27.7 km long tunnel as part of 95.86 km long North Central Great Canal Project

It has been planned to construct a 27.7km tunnel from Koduruwawa to Namalpura via the conserved forests and sanctuaries in Giritale and Hurulu as a package of he Mahaweli Water Security Investment Programme, which is implemented under the funds of the Asian Development Bank.

International competitive bids have been invited to select a contractor. Approval for the proposal by the Irrigation Minister to award the contract to the China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited as recommended by the Standing Committee on Procurement appointed by the Cabinet was granted by the Cabinet.