DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE CABINET OF MINISTERS AT ITS MEETING HELD ON 20-12-2016

November 14, 2024

Cabinet Decisions

DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE CABINET OF MINISTERS AT ITS MEETING HELD ON 20-12-2016 ^Featured

December 21, 2016

01. National Programme on prevention of chronic kidney disease – 2016-2018 (Document No – 05)

The Chronic Kidney Disease which became a major non communicable disease in Sri Lanka recently has spread widely in North Central, Uva, North-western, Northern, Central, and Eastern provinces and considerable number of patients have been reported in Southern Province. This disease has caused many social and economic issues. To overcome this situation implementation of a prevention programme, early identification of patients, treatment, welfare of patients and their families, and provision of pure drinking water should be continued. In this regard, the proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, to obtain funds for the national plan on prevention of chronic kidney disease implemented in 2016-2018 by the Presidential Task Force on Prevention of Chronic Kidney Disease, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

02. Declaration of a national integration and reconciliation week (Document No – 11)

The proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of National Integration and Reconciliation, to declare the week from 08th to 14th January each year from 2017 as the National Integration and reconciliation week with the view of improving peace, harmony and fraternity among people and to implement various programmes in all schools, media, public and private institutions demonstrating the importance of national integration, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

03. Project for providing recreation facilities around Kumbichchankulama tank, Anuradhapura (Document No – 15)

Although Anuradhapura city has basic infrastructure and common amenities it does not have sufficient space for recreation activities. Hence, the proposal made by Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka, Minister of Megapolis and Western Development, to obtain funds for the project to rehabilitate the Kumbichchankulama Tank and develop its surrounding for providing recreational facilities, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

04. Construction of a 100 mw solar park in Siyambalanduwa (Document No – 16)

There is currently a global trend in generating electricity through renewable energy sources and a priority has been given to solar power. Accordingly, Solar Power Plants of 11.3 MW are being connected national grid and about 30 MW are being generated under net metering. Various projects have been implemented to improve the use of solar power and it has been planned to construct 03 Solar Parks with 100 MW each. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Minister of Power and Renewable Energy, to perform a feasibility study for construction of a 100 Mw Solar Park in Siyambalanduwa, Monaragala, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

05. Construction of knuckles information centre – Department of forest conservation (Document No – 27)

Construction of a Comprehensive Information Centre was commenced in 2014 in the Knuckles Reservation Forest it has been discontinued with difficulty of obtaining necessary allocations. The proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment, to resume its constructions using allocations of Rs. 23 million to be received under the "2016-2018 Punarudaya" Programme, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

06. Resettlement of families displaced due to the Moragahakanda – Kaluganga Development Project in Medirigiriya Divisional secretary's Division (Document No – 28)

A portion of families displaced under the above project will be resettled in its catchment area and other are to be resettled in an identified lands of 9000 hectares in Medirigiriya area of Mahaweli D Zone. Resettlement development activities are being done covering 04 Grama Niladhari Divisions and it expects to cover the whole divisional secretary's division. Accordingly, the proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment, to expand irrigation and settlement development activities in 09 Grama Niladhari Divisions and to do a feasibility study for the rest 32 Grama Niladhari Divisions, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

07. Construction of a new rail track from Kurunegala to Habarana via Dambulla (Document No – 29)

An environment impact study has already been done in this regard. The proposal made by Hon. Nimal Siripala de Silva, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, to obtain the service of Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau to assist the Cabinet Appointed Negotiating Committee with regard to the Technical Proposal presented by the Chinese project proposer, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

08. Development of infrastructure in universities (Document No – 30)

Accommodation facilities to academic and non-academic staff should be provided within universities to retain them in universities outside Colombo. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Lakshman Kiriella, Minister of Higher Education and Highways, to implement projects for construction of quarters for staff in Universities of Rajarata, Ruhuna, Wayamba, Sabaragamuwa, Eastern and Jaffna, and to construct a four storied (04) building to develop the Jaffna regional centre of the Open University of Sri Lanka, and to completely renovate old buildings in the University of Peradeniya, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

09. Setup an intravenous solution manufacturing plant in Sri Lanka (Document No – 31)

Cabinet of Ministers has already approved the setup of the above plant in Sri Lanka to save a large amount of money spent on pharmaceuticals and other medical equipments and to provide fresh and quality intravenous solutions required for all hospitals in Sri Lanka. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. (Dr.) Rajitha Senarathne, Minister of Health Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, to award the above project as recommended by the Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

10. Construction of a new building for the Homagama Divisional Secretariat (Document No – 33)

The proposal made by Hon. Vajira Abeywardana, Minister of Home Affairs, to award the above contract as recommended by the Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

11. Pilot project on establishment of a ground water monitoring network covering Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Monaragala Districts (Document No – 34)

Management of ground water in Sri Lanka is very important and obtaining timely data on ground water is essential in this regard. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Wijith Wijayamuni Zoysa, Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management, to award the contract for implementing the above project covering river basins of Malwathu Oya in Anuradhapura District, Maduru Oya in Polonnaruwa District and kumbukkan Oya in Monaragala District as recommended by the Cabinet Appointed Negotiating Committee, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

12. Financing consultancy services for design review and construction supervision of civil works of extension of southern expressway project (Document No – 41)

Constructions of all 04 phases of extension of Southern Expressway from Matara to Hambantota have commenced in late 2015 and are on progress. The proposal made by Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, Minister of Finance, to enter into a framework agreement with the Government of China to obtain a loan of Renminbi Yuan 577 million on the above matter and to enter into a loan agreement with EXIM Bank of China for obtaining the loan, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

13. 'Awakening Rajarata' presidential programme -award of four contracts on highways development under 'let's awaken Polonnaruwa' District Development Programme (Document No – 49)

The proposal made by Hon. Lakshman Kiriella, Minister of Higher Education and Highways, to award following four (04) contracts as recommended by the Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

   Improvement of Manampitiya – Aralaganwila – Maduru Oya road (3.0 km to 33.0 km)
   Improvement and rehabilitation of Dehiattakandiya – Aralaganwila road (0 km to 21.10 km)
   Improvement of Minneriay – Galoya road (0 km to 14.54 km)
   Improvement of Elahera – Giritale road (0 km to 29.0 km)

14. Expansion of facilities at Monaragala Vocational Training Centre of the National Youth Services Council (Document No – 50)

The above vocational training centre was established in 1987 and no action has been taken to improve its facilities since then. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, to construct a new building for lectured halls for conducting 10 courses to train 250 youths focusing on motor mechanism, construction and tourist hotel industries, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

15. Importation of rice to control price hike and storage in the domestic market (Document No – 58)

The area of land cultivated in Maha season has decreased due to bad weather condition affected the country. In this case, the proposal made by Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce, to import rice through private sector, to store all rice in bonded warehouses and to issue rice to the market gradually to control the price hike, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.