Cabinet Decision

Decisions taken at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on 2021.12.06

1.Awarding research grants to Sir John Kotalawala Defence University by the Commonwealth University Association

The Commonwealth University Association has been established with more than 500 member establishments within more than 50 commonwealth states and it has been inaugurated in the year 1913. Enhancing and assisting to increase the excellence of higher education for the betterment of individuals and societies within and out of the territories belong to the commonwealth association is one of its fundamental missions. Considering the project proposal furnished by the University under the theme “Building awareness of male female socialism among the community of General Sir John Kotalawala Defence University”, the Commonwealth University Association has agreed to finance Sterling Pounds 1,000 as a research grant to implement the said project. Accordingly, the proposal submitted by the President, as the Minister of Defence to obtain the said grant from the Commonwealth University Association was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

2.Allocation of lands in Mahaweli areas to Investors on Long Term Lease for Commercial Agriculture Projects aimed at National Food and Nutrition Security and Exports

It is designed to encourage investors to grow essential food crops that can be grown locally in order to minimize the negative impact on the Sri Lankan economy caused by the influx of foreign exchange for food imports in the Covid 19 epidemic.

Also, one of the main objectives of the Saubhagya National Food Production Promotion Policy is to increase milk production and local production of animal feed.

Accordingly the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Minister of Irrigation to provide about 1,750 hectares of lands in Mahaweli areas to selected investors on long term lease basis following the formal procedure for the implementation of national food and nutrition security and export oriented commercial agricultural projects.

3.Capacity building projects on Forensic Drug Analysis in the Criminal Justice System in Sri Lanka

KOICA has agreed to provide a grant of US$ 4 million for the implementation of a capacity building project related to the analysis of Forensic Drug Analysis in the criminal justice system of Sri Lanka. Under this project, it is planned to upgrade the testing equipment of the Narcotics and Forensic Laboratory and to establish a laboratory information management system. Under the project, it is planned to upgrade test equipment in the Narcotics and Forensic Laboratory, provide training on forensic toxicology and establish a laboratory information management system. Under this project it is planned to enhance the testing equipment in the Narcotics and Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, to provide training on forensic toxicology and establishing a laboratory information management system. Accordingly the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Minister of Justice to sign a Conference Report comprising Terms of references between KOICA, Department of Foreign Resources and Department of Government Analyst and the Department of Analyst and the Ministry of Justice.

4.Establishment of a Cardiology Unit at the Ampara District General Hospital

Victims of heart diseases and the number of deaths from heart attacks in the Ampara District have risen steadily over the past few years. It is essential to develop the physical resources of the Ampara General Hospital to provide more effective care services to the heart patients who come for treatment in order to control this situation. Accordingly, it has been planned to set up a Cardiology Unit with a Catheter Laboratory at the Ampara General Hospital. The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal submitted by the Minister of Health to award the project to the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau on the Design, construction and hand over basis.