An extradition treaty between Sri Lanka and the People's Republic of China regarding the extradition process was signed during the official visit of Hon. Prime Minister to China last year. The proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Defence, in this regard, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
02. Taking actions to prevent wild elephants from loitering in waste disposing dumps (Document No – 07)
Improper waste disposal have impacted badly on environment as well as animals. About 54 waste disposing dumps are located in wild life zones and about 300 wild elephants are loitering around these dumps. Eating this waste has become a threat to their health. Accordingly, the joint proposal made by Hon. Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlife and Hon. Faizer Mustafa, Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government, to implement a waste recycling programme giving priority to such wildlife zones and to make electric fences for preventing wild elephants from reaching such dumps, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
03. Charging due lease rents from users of reservations belonging to the Department of Railways (Document No – 08)
About 1934 acres of Lands of Railway Department have been leased to 6400 lessees but many of them have not paid their rents properly. A due amount of about Rs. 1468 million should be paid by them. The Cabinet has decided at its meeting held on 10 May 2016 to lease out lands to users of railway reservations for more than 10 years for a maximum period of 5 years on government's assessment. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Nimal Siripala de Silva, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, to introduce a proper and concessionary method to collect the said due amounts, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
04. Hosting the next conference of the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education, in 2019 in Sri Lanka (Document No – 09)
Above network is established with combination of more than 200 active organizations in the field and its summit is held once in two years for exchanging their experiences. The proposal made by Hon. Lakshman Kiriella, Minister of Higher Education and Highways, to hold its next summit in 2019 in Sri Lanka, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
05. Loan facility of USD 200 million from Government of Pakistan (Document No – 13)
The Government of Pakistan agrees to provide a loan facility of USD 200 million and it will be used for financing projects such as housing construction, development of livestock , importing equipment required for agriculture and dairy production, and development of Industrial Technology Institute. The proposal which had been made by Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, former Minister of Finance, to enter into a loan agreement with Pakistan in this regard, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
06. Allocation of land plots from regional industrial estates for establishment of new industries (Document No – 14)
The proposal made by Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce, to lease out 23 lands in Industrial Estates in Buttala, Nalanda (Matale), Nalanda Ellawala, Galigamuwa, Kalutara, Millawa, Minuwangoda, Mathugama, Dambadeniya, Nurana, Makandura (west), Dankotuwa, Udukawa, Trincomalee, for 35 years for selected investors who expects to invest about Rs. 1617 billion, on the basis of charging lease rent determined by the Chief Assessor, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
07. Development of walkways in Colombo Fort and Pettah (stage III of construction) (Document No – 15)
Stages 1 and 2 of the above project are being completed and walkway from St. Sebastian Canal, Technical Junction to Superior Courts Complex is to be developed under its stage III. It is 6 meters (20 feet) in width and 1485 meters in length. The proposal made by Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka, Minister of Megapolis and Western Development, to complete these tasks through Sri Lanka Navy by using allocations of the ministry, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
08. Memorandum of Understanding between Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy and Malaysia Agricultural Research Development Institute for development of human resources of Agricultural Scientists in National Agricultural Research System (Document No – 18)
Above MoU was signed during the official visit of H.E. the President in Malaysia in 2016. The proposal made by Hon. Duminda Dissanayake, Minister of Agriculture, to approve this MoU to enable funds to be allocated from the General Treasury which are required for implementing agreed programmes, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
09. Repealing the Flood Protection Ordinance No. 4 of 1924 and enacting a new Flood Management Act (Document No – 19)
Above act authorizes the relevant minister to declare areas that can be affected by floods and the Director General of Irrigations to take protective measures. The act has been slightly amended only once and there is a need to enact a new act to make provisions to protect lives and properties from floods, considering the social, economical, environmental, and institutional changes occurred during the past period. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Wijith Wijayamuni Zoysa, Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management, to draft a new act in this regard, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
10. Hosting the Asia – Oceania regional intergovernmental ministerial meeting on anti-doping in sport - 2018 (Document No – 22)
The World Anti-doping Agency has requested Sri Lanka to host the above event and 150 participants including its members, members of Asian Olympic Committee, Sri Lankan intellectuals will participate in it. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Minister of Sports, to host the above event at an estimated cost of Rs. 20 million and to obtain relevant allocations in year 2018, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
11. Award of contract for the construction from Lunugala to Bibile (from 171.80 km to 190.80 km) under the Badulla – Chenkalady Road Improvement Project (Document No – 27)
The proposal made by Hon. Lakshman Kiriella, Minister of Higher Education and Highways, to award the above contract as recommended by the Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
12. Award of contract for design and construction of 500 houses for professionals at Weera Mawatha, Pannipitiya (Document No – 29)
Above project is implemented by the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development and the proposal made by Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka, Minister of Megapolis and Western Development, award the above contract as recommended by the Technical Evaluation Committee and Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
13. Providing Official Quarters for public officers – Colombo District (Document No – 30)
As many of the officers in government offices in Colombo reside outside Colombo they tend to expect quarters. However, there are no ample quarters to be provided for officers such as Secretaries to Ministries and Department heads. As a solution a project has been planned to be implemented for construction of 49 houses in a 08 storied housing complex in a land of 0.284 hectares at Hector Kobbekaduwa Mawatha, Colombo 07, which is owned by the Ministry of Public Administration and Management. The project is expected to be completed in 2019. The proposal made by Hon. Ranjith Maddumabandara, Minister of Public Administration and Management, to implement this project and to obtain necessary allocations from the General Treasury during 2017-2019, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
14. Purchasing a supplementary bulk of 150 MT of dates by Sathosa to be distributed among the Islam devotees during the Ramalan season (Document No – 33)
The Government of Saudi Arabia has donated 150 MT of dates for the above purpose but it is not sufficient for all the devotees. Hence, the proposal made by Hon. M.H.A. Haleem, Minister of Post, Postal Services and Muslim Religious Affairs, to purchase a bulk of 150 MT of dates through Sathosa and distribute among Islam devotees under the supervision of the ministry, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
15. Regulation on imposition of Import Control License requirement for Concrete Pump Trucks which are more than ten years old in terms of Import and Export Control Act No. 01 of 1969 (Document No – 34)
Under the above regulations two H.S Codes have been created to cover Concrete Pump Trucks which are less than 10 years old and which are more than 10 years old. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Malik Samarawickrama, Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade, to present in parliament for approval the gazette notification no. 2019/24 and dated 19 May 2017 under the Import and Export Control Act No. 01 of 1969, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
16. Reinsurance cover for National Natural Disaster and Emergency Relief Insurance Scheme for the year 2017/18 (Document No – 35)
According to a budget proposal in 2016 above cover was introduced for natural disasters covering the whole country. Rs. 500 million has been allocated for further improvement of this scheme. The payments of claims have been expanded including wide range of accidents due to natural disasters. The policy will be renewed with a Cover of Rs. 15 billion and to prevent any abnormal losses to this policy it requires to be reinsured. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, to select a reinsurance company as recommended by the Technical Evaluation Committee and Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee, and to pay its premium and to enter into relevant agreements, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
17. Reliefs for persons affected by floods and landslides
The Cabinet expresses its condolences to persons who are affected by the disaster and thanks to all who have actively interfered in this difficult situation including people's representatives, public officers, three armed forces, Police and Civil Security Force and made the following decisions.
(i). Increase the maximum amount for provide cooked meals to displaced persons from Rs. 225/- to Rs. 300/-
(ii). Suspend the purchase of new vehicles for the use of ministers and ministries.
(iii). Make arrangements to repair houses and other buildings damaged due to this disaster through Sri Lanka Army and Civil Security Force.
(iv). Utilize financial aids received from foreign countries to construct damaged houses.
(v). Appointment of a Cabinet Subcommittee comprised of following ministers to obtain allocations required for proposed redevelopments by reprioritizing allocations made in budget 2017 for development projects and other matters and to make recommendations on a suitable method for rehabilitation of damaged buildings and other capital assets
Hon. Mangala Samaraweera - Minister of Finance and Mass Media
Hon. Ravi Karunanayake - Minister of Foreign Affairs
Hon. Kabir Hashim - Minister of Public Enterprise Development
(vi). Instruct the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance and Mass Media to inform the private sector on tax concessions received by private sector agencies who contribute in rehabilitation of damaged houses and infrastructure.
