02.    Allocation of lands owned by Land reforms Commission for public tasks (Document No – 16)

The proposal made by the Minister of Lands, to allocate following lands for public tasks, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

    A land of 07.31 perches in Korathota area at Kaduwela to the Kaduwela Municipal Council for constructing a Community Hall.

   A land of 05 perches in Chilaw area to Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Chilaw to construct a building for a Cooperative Bank.

03.    Allocation of a land to Sri Lanka Police for locating the Yatawatta Police Station (Document No – 18)

The proposal made by the Minister of Law and Order and Southern Development, to allocate a land of 02 acres 01 rood and 3.5 perches to Sri Lanka Police which is currently owned by Udupussellawa Plantation Company, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

04.    Implementation of reforms to increase investment flows to Sri Lanka (Document No – 19)

Making reforms to increase investment flows to Sri Lanka will increase competition on investments in Sri Lanka. Hence, reforms should be introduced to establish a suitable method to assign responsibilities and leadership related to relevant tasks. Accordingly, the proposals made by the Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade, to establish a separate Secretariat to implement this task, to setup 10 technical task forces to coordinate among relevant institutions, and to instruct Legal Draftsman to make necessary legal reforms, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

05.    Second Indian Ocean Conference - 2017 (Document No – 23)

The Indian Foundation has made arrangements to hold the above conference from 31 August to 02 September in association with Institute of Policy Studies, Sri Lanka, Institute of International and Strategic Studies, Bangladesh, and S. Rajaratnam College on International Studies, Singapore. The Conference focuses on security, economic, cultural and environmental matters in the region and high rank delegates from more than 30 countries will participate in the event. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Prime Minister, to hold the above conference in Colombo, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

06.    Official announcement on roundtable talks of leaders of Belt and road forum for international Cooperation (Document No – 24)

Cabinet has noted that Hon. Prime Minister has participated in above roundtable talks which was presided by the President of China and held on 15 May 2017 and heads of states of Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Argentina, Belorussia, Chilli, Indonesia, Laos, Philippine, Turkey, Vietnam, Cambodia, Fiji, Hungary, Italy, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan and Poland participated in it. Moreover the Cabinet of Ministers also considered matters included in the official announcement issued at the end of the discussions with the view of expanding cooperation in the fields of development strategies including Belt and Road Initiative, Economic development, economic cooperation, and scientific and technical innovation.

07.    Concessionary financial facilities by Government of Finland (Document No – 25)

Finland has granted concessionary financial facilities to implement several projects in Sri Lanka during 1983 to 2006 and they have agreed to provide more facilities under Public Sector Investment Facility programme. Accordingly, the proposal made by the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, to enter into an agreement with Finland to obtain a loan of 30 million Euros to finance development projects in Sri Lanka, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

08.    Financial Assistance for construction of high altitude Sports Complex, Nuwara Eliya (Document No – 26)

Cabinet has approved to enter into agreement with the relevant contractor to implement this project at the meeting held on 20-12-2016. The proposal made by the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, to hold loan negotiations and to enter into loan agreements with relevant institutes for financing this project, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

09.    Rapid increase in price of rice in domestic market (Document No – 31)

Cabinet has deeply discussed the above matter and decided to permit private sector to import rice for making relief to public without affecting domestic farmers. The Cabinet of Ministers has further decided that the imported amount should be decided by the Cabinet Subcommittee on Cost of Living.

10.    Incidents affecting harmony among ethnic groups in the country (Document No – 32)

The Cabinet has focused their attention on recent incidents and some provoking behaviour of several parties that obstructs the harmony among ethnic groups and noted the need of preventing such incidents in the future. Hence, the Cabinet of Ministers decided as follows.

                                        (i).     Instruct law enforcement authorities to take legal action against responsible persons of such incidents according to provisions of the prevailing laws.

                                      (ii).     Direct the Inspector General of Police to instruct all Officers in Charge of Polices to be responsible for preventing such incidents in their police areas.

11.    Collapse of Building in Wellawatta (Document No – 33)

The Cabinet has considered the mishap of collapse of a building in Wellawatta and noted the need to prevent such incidents in the future.

A proper permission has not been obtained to construct the said building and inquiries have been launched against all officials who allowed this illegal construction and disciplinary action would be taken on who are found responsible. Relevant authorities have already been advised to make sure to prevent such incidents in the future. Above information presented by Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka, Minister of Megapolis and Western Development, was further considered by the Cabinet of Ministers.