Cabinet Decisions
May
DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE CABINET OF MINISTERS AT ITS MEETING HELD ON 23-05-2017
01. Construction of a hybrid energy park of 240 Mw of wind power and 800 MW of solar power plants at Punarin Area (Document No – 12)
According to the government's policy to add a considerable amount of electricity to national grid through renewable energy sources, the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority has recognized northern area of the country as a suitable area to build wind power and solar power plants. Accordingly, the proposal made by the Minister of Power and Renewable Energy, to implement the above project in three stages, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
May
DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE CABINET OF MINISTERS AT ITS MEETING HELD ON 16-05-2017
DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE CABINET OF MINISTERS AT ITS MEETING HELD ON 16-05-2017
May
DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE CABINET OF MINISTERS AT ITS MEETING HELD ON 09-05-2017
01. MOU between Sri Lanka and Netherland on providing security for commercial ships with Netherland flag (Document No – 06)
Government of Netherland has requested Sri Lanka to provide services of Sri Lankan Navy for the Netherland Navy brigade serving in Indian Ocean off Somali coast on payment basis. Accordingly, the proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Defence, to sign the above MoU on providing these services between Ministries of Defence in two countries, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
May
DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE CABINET OF MINISTERS AT ITS MEETING HELD ON 02-05-2017
01. Amendment to the Explosives Ordinance no 21 of 1956 (Document No – 06)
A committee appointed for making recommendations on amending the above act has made several recommendations including provisions for issuing license for suppliers, validity period of licenses and creating a post called 'Additional Controller of Explosives'. Accordingly, the proposal made by HE the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Defence, to amend the above act by including those recommendations, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
April
DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE CABINET OF MINISTERS AT ITS MEETING HELD ON 25-04-2017
01. Issuing permits for passenger transport buses in Southern Expressway (Document No – 12)
The proposal made by Hon. Nimal Siripala de Silva, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, to amend the relevant selection criteria and articles in National Transport Commission Act according to the order issued by the Supreme Court and instructions by the Attorney General, and to call for tenders again giving priority to permit holders in the Galle Road, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
April
DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE CABINET OF MINISTERS AT ITS MEETING HELD ON 04-04-2017
01. Improvement of Marine rescue services (Document No – 10)
According to international conventions regarding air and marine transportation signed by Sri Lanka a 'Marine Rescue Coordination Centre' should be maintained. This responsibility is currently born by Marine Shipping Secretariat and they have assigned the task to Sri Lanka Navy.
It has been proposed to implement an infrastructure improvement project for the above Coordinating Centre with the partnership of Merchant Shipping Secretariat, Sri Lanka Air Force and Coast Guard Department. Its main centre will be established in Colombo, and Secondary Centre will be located in Hambantota. Subunits will be located in 07 strategically important places, i.e. Galle, Trincomalee, Point Pedro, Mollikulam, Arugambay, Batticaloa, and Kallarawa. The proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Defence, to commence this project in 2017 and to complete within 04 years, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
March
DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE CABINET OF MINISTERS AT ITS MEETING HELD ON 21-03-2017
01. Implementation of 'Shrama Shakthi' programme for alleviation of poverty (Document No – 05)
The poverty of Sri Lanka which was 26.1% in 1990 could be reduced to 6.7% in 2011 with various social security programmes implemented in the past. 2017 has been declared as the year of elimination of poverty in Sri Lanka and further steps should be taken to achieve this goal.
March
DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE CABINET OF MINISTERS AT ITS MEETING HELD ON 14-03-2017
01. Draft concept paper and framework for Grama Rajya (Document No – 06)
The government has paid its attention on implementing Grama Rajya concept with the objectives of enable public to actively contribute in the development of their region, affirm a comprehensive and sustainable society with social equity, provide a platform of exchanging ideas on development between the communities and the government. A committee of experts in the field has prepared the above concept paper and framework and the Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee on Internal Administration and Public Management has made its observations. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, to publish the said concept paper and framework in the website of the Prime Minister's officer for obtaining public views, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
March
DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE CABINET OF MINISTERS AT ITS MEETING HELD ON 28-02-2017
01. Accelerating Government's procurement procedure (Document No – 06)
H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena has presented following decisions taken at the meeting held on 03-02-2017 with the participation of himself, Hon. Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, relevant government officers, members of Procurement Commission and Procurement Appeal Board for the consideration of the Cabinet of Ministers.
February
DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE CABINET OF MINISTERS AT ITS MEETING HELD ON 21-02-2017
01. Acceleration of payment of compensations for land owners affected by Moragahakanda – KaluGanga project (Document No – 09)
The cabinet has already approved the payment of 50% of additional compensation in addition to assessed value of lands acquired for the above project in instalments within a period of 04 years from 2016-2019. Considering the facts presented regarding the issues faced by land owners whose lands are in the area covered by the reservoir, the proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment, to pay the complete compensation within 2017-2018, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
02. Grant Assistance from Japan to strengthen public security and prevention of terrorism (Document No – 11)
Government of Japan has agreed to provide productions under non-project grants, of 250 million Yen (Rs. 327 million approx.) within 2016/2017 for strengthening public security and activities against terrorism. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, to sign exchange notes with the government of Japan to obtain the said grants, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
03. Project for improvement of financial sector for modernizing the finance field of Sri Lanka (Document No – 13)
Above project aims to implement several essential reforms identified for the development of the field within 2017-2022. It will be implemented under three (03) aspects of financial assistance for reforms, strengthening capacity of regulatory agencies, and development of infrastructure.
Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, to implement the above project by the Ministry of Finance, Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Securities and Exchange Commission, and Sri Lanka Insurance Board within 2017-2022, and to obtain a credit of Special Drawing Rights equivalent to USD 75 million from the International Development Agency of the World Bank for the above purpose, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
04. Increase of the amount of compensation paid for deaths caused by wild elephant attacks (Document No – 15)
The Cabinet has recently approved the increase of compensations paid for damages caused by wild elephant attacks on individuals and properties. Accordingly, amending the amounts further, the proposal made by Hon. Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlife, to increase the compensation paid for human deaths and permanent disabilities from Rs. 200,000/- to Rs. 500,000/-, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
05. Obtaining assistance of Sri Lanka Scouts Movement in introduction of sustainable solution for conservation of Natural resources and to build up human-wildlife co-existence (Document No – 16)
Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlife, to conduct a training programme for three (03) years for Sri Lanka Scouts Movement on the above purpose with the assistance of Ministry of Education at the Randenigala Training Centre of Sri Lanka Wildlife Trust, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
06. Amendment to industrial disputes act – representation and appearance before Labour Tribunals (Document No – 18)
It has been identified that some misinterpretations of certain Presidents of Labour Tribunals, preventing representatives other than lawyers to advocate the victims, have caused a prejudice to general employees. Accordingly, the joint proposal made by Hon. W.D.J. Seneviratne, Minister of Labour and Trade Union Relations, and Hon. Wijayadasa Rajapaksa, Minister of Justice, to instruct the Legal Draftsman to amend the Industrial Disputes Act making provisions to a person who is not a lawyer to represent or advocate parties, to remove provisions preventing a lawyer from advocating in an inquiry conducted before Commissioner of Labour or authorized officer, and to transfer the power of taking action against employers who neglect orders made by such a tribunal from the Commissioner of Labour to Tribunal Presidents, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
07. Development of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka into a state of the art modern hospital (Document No – 20)
It is timely to develop the NHSL to a state of the art hospital which is considered as the apex centre of Sri Lankan health system, which is comprised of 3,382 beds. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. (Dr.) Rajitha Senarathne, Minister of Health Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, to implement following urgent measures as a part of this project, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
• Renovation of Old Victoria Building and Bandaranaike building
• Renovation of quarters of Doctors located in Barns Place and quarters of Nurses in no. 93.
08. Establishment of a Modern Neonatal Specialist centre at De Soyza Maternity Hospital, Colombo (Document No – 21)
De Soyza hospital provides healthcare for maternal, obstetrics and Gynaecology, sub-fertility, baby care and family planning and medical care and provides training for undergraduate and postgraduate students of University of Colombo. Cabinet has already approved the expansion of Premature Baby Unit and Special Care Baby Unit as a large number of births take place in the hospital and many children are transferred from peripheral hospitals.
Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. (Dr.) Rajitha Senarathne, Minister of Health Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, to establish a Neonatal Specialist Centre in this hospital under assistance of the government of France, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
09. Draft bill on credit information service providers (Document No – 25)
Sri Lanka Credit Information Bureau is the sole authorised body for providing credit information in Sri Lanka and the government has identified the positive impact of private credit information service providers on the economy. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, Minister of Finance, to publish the draft bill in the gazette and subsequently present in parliament for approval, which has been drafted to issue license for credit information service providers, and to provide for their regulation and supervision, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
10. Funding essential infrastructure projects through a government owned Special Infrastructure Company (Document No – 26)
The proposal made by Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, Minister of Finance, to establish the 'Special Infrastructure Company' owned by the Sri Lankan Government and Road Development Authority enabling efficient investment in expressway projects, to transfer assets of current expressways and expressways to be constructed in the future and to earn capital from investors using those assets as a base or to obtain loans by providing them as sureties, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
11. Euroclearing of securities issued by the government of Sri Lanka (Document No – 27)
Euroclearing will help in popularising government's securities among foreign investors, minimizing complexity of transactions, and in reducing the cost. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, Minister of Finance, to establish the legal and regulatory frame for obtaining the euroclearing facility for Sri Lankan Securities with the view of providing direct and unobstructed access for foreign investors to the Government's Security Market, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
12. Regulations framed under the companies act No. 07 of 2007 (Document No – 28)
The proposal made by Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce, to present 'Companies (Secretaries) Regulations', published in gazette extraordinary no. 1998/11 dated 20-12-2016 prepared under the article 527 of Companies Act no. 07 of 2007, for enabling members of Institute of Certified Management Accountant of Sri Lanka to be registered as Company Secretaries, in parliament for approval, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
13. Feed in tariff for purchasing electricity generated through combustion of municipal solid waste (Document No – 29)
The proposal made by Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka, Minister of Megapolis and Western Development, to implement the feed in tariff prescribed by the Public Utilities Commission for purchasing electricity generated through combustion of solid waste in Municipal Solid Waste Processing Centres which have already been approved to be established in Karadiyana and Muthurajawela and centres to be established in due course, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
14. Allocation of a block of land from Ratnapura New Town to construct the Ratnapura District Cultural Centre (Document No – 31)
The proposal made by Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka, Minister of Megapolis and Western Development, to transfer a land of 01 acres from Farm Garden Estate owned by UDA to Ratnapura District Secretary on the above purpose, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
15. Allocation of a block of land from Ratnapura New Town to construct the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Office of the Department of Community Based Correction (Document No – 33)
The proposal made by Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka, Minister of Megapolis and Western Development, to transfer a land of 20 perches from Farm Garden Estate owned by UDA to the Department of Community Based Correction through Ratnapura Divisional Secretary on the above purpose, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
16. Allocation of a block of land from Ratnapura New Town to construct the Ratnapura District Office of the Department of National Community Water Supply (Document No – 34)
The proposal made by Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka, Minister of Megapolis and Western Development, to transfer a land of 01 Rood and 29 perches from Farm Garden Estate owned by UDA to the Department of National Community Water Supply through Ratnapura Divisional Secretary on the above purpose, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
17. Allocation of lands to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Research, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, University of Moratuwa from Mahenawatta of Pitipana, Homagama (Document No – 35)
UDA has acquired lands of about 34 hectares from the above estate to establishment of institutions related to science and technology. The proposal made by Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka, Minister of Megapolis and Western Development, to transfer lands of about 46 acres from the above estate to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Research, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, University of Moratuwa subject to the payment of assessed value of the land, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
18. Implementation of livelihood development and poverty alleviation projects for fisheries community (Document No – 36)
Funds of Rs. 1200 million have been allocated in 2017 to the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development for above projects. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Mahinda Amaraweera, Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development, to implement 30 priority projects identified by the ministry with the assistance of the private sector, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
19. Amendment to the Code of Criminal Procedure (Special Provisions) Act No. 2 of 2013 – (rights of detainees – access to legal counsel) (Document No – 38)
Cabinet has already granted approval on 10-01-2017 to make above amendments and the proposal made by Hon. Wijayadasa Rajapaksa, Minister of Justice, to publish the 'Code of Criminal Procedure (Special Provisions) (Amendment) Bill' prepared by Legal Draftsman and cleared by the Attorney General, in the gazette and subsequently present in parliament for approval, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
20. Infrastructure development of the construction equipment operator training centre (Document No – 40)
Above centre which is established in 1982 in Galkulama, Anuradhapura under the Construction Industry Development Authority is a priority institution providing man power to construction field in Sri Lanka. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Sajith Premadasa, Minister of Housing and Construction, to identify necessary infrastructure developments to be done in this centre under a comprehensive plan, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
21. Signing of a statement of mutual agreement between Prot of Colombo and Prot and Urban Projects bureau of Kobe City Government (Document No – 41)
The proposal made by Hon. Arjuna Ranatunga, Minister of Ports and Shipping, to sign the above statement during the International Port Conference in Kobe, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
22. Construction of houses for the plantation community – Request to increase the allocation per house from Rs. 650,000.00 to 1,000,000.00 (Document No – 42)
Houses are being built for plantation community under the Ministry of Hill Country New Villages, Infrastructure and Community Development on loan and grant assistance basis. According to estimates prepared in 2014 Rs. 650,000 has been allocated per a house but considering current prices construction material it is insufficient. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. U. Palani Thigambaram, Minister of Hill Country New Villages, Infrastructure and Community Development, to increase the cost for a house from Rs. 650,000 to Rs. 1,000,000 and to provide Rs. 480,000 of them as an non-repayable grant and the rest Rs. 520,000 as a loan to be repayable in 15 years, and to provide the full amount as a non-repayable grant for those who are being informed to vacate their residences due to landslide threats, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
23. Establishment of the National Commission on women (Document No – 43)
As prevailing institutions on women's affairs has no legal power to address the increasing violence against women, the proposal made by Hon. Chandrani Bandara, Minister of Women and Child Affairs, to establish the National Commission on Women, considering the responsibility assigned on the government by the constitution and Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
24. Improvement of Infrastructure in Saraswathi Central College, Pussellawa (Document No – 44)
About thousand students study in this school which is about 100 years old and it has been identified as a school to be developed with facilities for students of plantation community. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Minister of Education, to enter into an agreement with the Republic of India to develop infrastructure of this school under Indian assistance, and to implement the developments by the Ministry of Education with the assistance of the Central Provincial Ministry of Education, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
25. Rehabilitation of Moragoda Ela and Temple Bypass (Document No – 48)
International Development Agency has provided USD 147 million to implement strategic urban development projects in Kandy and Galle. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka, Minister of Megapolis and Western Development, to award the contract for above rehabilitations done by a portion of above grants, to the M/s Business Promoters & Partners Engineering (Pvt.) Ltd at a cost of Rs. 844,907,205.00 without VAT as recommended by the Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
26. Compensation for victims of boat accident in the seas off Katukurunda, Kalutara on 19-02-2017 (Document No – 52)
The proposal made by Hon. Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Minister of Disaster Management, to pay compensations for victims of the above accident as Rs. 100,000/- for a deceased person and Rs. 20,000/- for an injured person, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
