01. Implementation of second consolidated highways investment programme.
The Government of Sri Lanka and the Asian Development Bank has entered into an agreement for obtaining US$ 900 million from that bank for the implementation of the second consolidated highways investment programme. It has been planned to renovate and maintain 3,400 kilometres of rural access roads in the Eastern, Northern, Uva and Western provinces and to renovate 340 kilometres of national roads between the rural community and the socio-economic centres in those provinces under the programme. The entire programme is scheduled to be completed by March 31,2027. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution by the Prime Minister as Finance Minister to obtain US Dollars 200 million which is the third instalment of the agreed sum of US Dollars 900 million promised for financing the second consolidated highways investment programme and enter into the relevant agreement.
02. Conservation and the sustainable utilization of Muthurajawela Wetland Zone.
The wetland environmental system in the proximity of Muthurajawela spread in an area of 6,232 hectares with the Negombo lagoon and a wetland and marshy land, is delivering a tremendous support in maintaining the socio-economic well-being of the urban population securing the environmental stability of the area. The Master Plan prepared in 1991 jointly by the Central Environment Authority with Greater Colombo Economic Commission with the objective of protecting this wetland area has introduced three major land utilisation patterns as the conservation zone, induction zone and mixed urban zone. Further to this, the Department of Wildlife and Forest Conservation has nominated a portion of 1,285.45 hectares of land as Muthurajawela reserve while the Central Environment Authority has nominated an area in extent of 162.1 hectares as an environment protection area. However, this eco system is threatened of destruction due to reasons such as irregular land filling, development of various infrastructure facilities for numerous purposes, encroachments and disposal of garbage. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the combined proposal submitted by the Prime Minister as the Urban Development and Housing Minister with the Ministers of Wildlife and Forest Conservation and Environment for taking the following measures to ensure the long term existence of the wetland area as well as its sustainable usage.
* Accelerated preparation of a master plan to suit the contemporary period for the conservation of Muthurajawela wet land zone.
* Appointment of a monitoring committee and a working committee comprised of the heads / representatives of the applicable stakeholder institutions.
* Acquisition of required government and private lands for implementation of an appropriate conservation methodology subject to the provisions of the Urban Development Act as per the Monitoring Committee recommendations.
* Entrusting the responsibility of taking necessary actions in regard to the sustainable usage of the eco-system as a wet land / low land to Sri Lanka Land Development Cooperation.
* The areas identified under the Master Plan as areas to be declared conserved as a National Reserve under the Fauna and Flora Ordinance.
* Taking necessary actions to declare Muthurajawela wetland area as a Ramsar wetland by implementing the Master plan that is to be prepared by the Monitoring Committee.
03. The Colombo University to enter into an agreement with the Taylors University of Malaysia for the implementation of a research project.
The Colombo University and the Taylors University of Malaysia have entered into an agreement to implement a research project utilizing male and female children of nine countries in Asia in regard to the extension and nature of television publicity on non-hygienic food. The Taylors University of Malaysia is financed by the International Development Research Centre in Canada for the said research project. Accordingly, the Taylors University of Malaysia may finance for the activities performed by Colombo University. Therefore, the resolution submitted by the Education Minister for entering into a Memorandum of Understanding for the implementation of the proposed environmental project was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
04. Entering into a MoU between the Technology Faculty of the Sri Jayawardhanapura University and the Tropical Biosphere Research Centre of the University of Ryukyus, Japan.
The Technology Faculty of the Sri Jayawardhanapura University and the Tropical Biosphere Research Centre of the University of Ryukyus, Japan has agreed to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding for developing partnership in the fields of development of inter-institutional research and innovation programmes, facilitation of staff and student the exchange programmes as well as exchange of experience. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval of the proposal submitted by the Education Minister for entering the aforementioned Memorandum of Understanding.
05. Provide concessions to continue the inter - province bus transport amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The approval of the Cabinet of Ministers to provide the identified concessions to continue the inter-province bus transport amidst the COVID-19 pandemic situation till March 31, 2021.The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal tabled by the Transport Minister to provide the following concessions for the bus owners from April 1, 2021 to September 31, 2021 by considering the bus transportation is not operated regularly due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic situation.
* Charge only 50% of the annual tender deposits.
* Charge only 50% of the expressway temporary permit charges.
06. Removal of silt in reservoirs governed by the Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority.
Among the key objectives of the construction of the Mahaweli Reservoirs, priority has been given to provide drinking water, provide water for agricultural purposes and provide water for renewable energy production. However, the capacity of most of the main reservoirs has been reduced due to the silt depositing. Therefore, it is unable achieve the expected objectives from those reservoirs. It has been planned to implement a project to remove silt and process the said silt into user-friendly. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal tabled by the Irrigation Minister to obtain measurements and data that including all relevant facts of the Polgolla,Victoria, Randenigala Rantabe, Kalawewa and Bowatenna reservoirs to obtain a local or
international consultancy service for prepare a basic capability study report and calling for local and international competitive bids to select a suitable institute to remove the silt in the said reservoirs based on the report that is prepared.
07. Submitting the Gazette Notification published under the Sri Lanka Export Development Act, No 40 of 1979.
Any goods imported for any project with an investment of US$ 50 Million or more, which will be operational on or after March 6, 2019, are exempt from the CESS tax prior to the commencement of commercial activities on that project. However, there are no provisions for CESS exemption for such projects as some large scale projects will commence commercial operations in stages before the completion of the entire project. Therefore, the proposal tabled by the Trade Minister to submit the aforesaid gazette notification to Parliament for approval on March 17, 2021 No. 2219/36 published under the Sri Lanka Export Development Act No. 40 of 1979, imposing provisions for exemption of such projects from CESS tax, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
