1. 74 th Independence Day celebrations falling on the 04 th February 2022.
The Cabinet of Ministers decided to appoint the sub – committee comprised of the following members for the guidance of the organizing of the 74 th Independence Day
celebrations falling on the 04 th February 2022:
His Excellency the President Gotabhaya Rajapaksha- Minister of Defence – (Chairman)
Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksha- The Prime Minister
Hon. (Prof.) G. L. Peiris -Minister of Foreign Affairs
Hon. Dinesh Gunawardhane -Minister of Education
Hon. Gamini Lokuge- Minister of Electricity
Hon. Janaka Bandara Thennakoon- Minister of Public Services, Provincial Councils and Local Government
Hon. Keheliya Rambukwella- Minister of Health
Hon. Chamal Rajapaksha- Minister of Irrigation and the State Minister of Home Affairs
Hon. Dullas Alahapperuma -Minister of Mass Media
Hon. Besil Rajapaksha -Minister of Finance
Hon. Vasudewa Nanayakkara -Minister of Water Supply
2. Implementation of “Colombo Bird Sanctuary” project in Madiwela, Sri Jayawardhanapura.
Proposals have been invited under competitive procurement methodology for implementing a bird sanctuary and related rear structures / infrastructure facilities development on the grounds of planning, financing, construction and implementation of the project in a plot of land in extent of 37 acres 01 rood and 20.44 perches belong to the Urban Development Authority situated at Madiwela, Sri Jayawardhanapura. The proposal submitted by Colombo Bird Park (Pvt.) Limited has been recommended by the Standing Negotiation Committee appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers. Approval of the Management board of the Urban Development Authority has also been granted to the said recommendation. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution
furnished by the Hon. Prime Minister as the Minister of Urban Development and Housing to release the relevant plot of land to Colombo Bird Park (Pvt.) Limited on lease for a period of 30 years.
3. Programme to fix prices of essential consumer commodities through building a market competition through the future foreign exchange agreement.
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted on 27.04.2021 for implementing a programme to procure essential consumer commodities to Lanka Sathosa Limited under fixed prices on future foreign exchange agreements. Under the said programme, agreements with selected suppliers through future foreign exchange accords are signed for a period of three (03) months. Advertisements have been published and called concurrence of the suppliers to implement phase three of the said programme within the next three months. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has decided to agree upon the facts tabled by the Minister of Trade in regard to the actions taken to implement the said programme with the prospective suppliers selected through declaration of concurrence received.
4. Obtaining an additional loan grant of United States $ 100 million under the programme of strategic preparation and response to COVID – 19.
As mentioned in the national utility and vaccination plan for COVID – 19 pandemic situations, the national task force for the management of COVID has decided to widen the fundamental target of vaccinating 60% of the Sri Lanka population. The International Monitory Fund (IMF) has agreed to grant a supplementary loan of United States $ 100 million for emergency response to COVID – 19 and preparation of health sector project under the programme of strategic preparation and response to COVID – 19 in Sri Lanka. It has been planned to procure 14 million dozes of Pfizer vaccination as well as financing other costs pertaining to vaccination. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Health for obtaining the relevant supplementary financing facility.
5. Implementation of four projects for controlling environmental pollution.
Consent have been given by The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, Specific International Programme belong to Minamata Convention, United Nation’s Environmental Programme as well as the Government of Switzerland and the United Nations Industrial Development Programme to finance for implementing four (04) projects in the fields of environmental pollution and chemicals management as two projects proposals for the management of plastic waste covered by Basel Convention and two more projects for formulating and educating relevant to mercury management that covers by Minamata Convention during the year 2021. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal submitted by the Minister of Environment to implement the said projects as well as to enter into the applicable agreements.
6. Management of recyclable waste generated by agricultural inputs in North Central Province
Most packaging for agricultural applications is made of polyethylene, terephthalate, glass, high density polyethylene and polypropylene. The Ministry of Environment has organized a program to properly recycle this material as it has caused environmental pollution due to improper disposal of the material and incineration of farms and houses.
It is planned to implement the proposed program as a pilot project in the North Central Province with the assistance of Farmers' Organizations, Regional Offices of the Department of Irrigation and Divisional Management Offices of the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka as a further expansion of plastic and glass waste recycling program implemented since 2016 by the Central Environmental Authority, Pesticides Registrar's Office and Croplife Sri Lanka (Pvt) Ltd under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment. World Health Organization (WHO)'s Health, Water and Sanitation Promotion and Support for Food Security and Climate Change program has taken steps to provide the necessary funding. Accordingly the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal made by the Minister of Environment and the Minister of Agriculture to declare the second week of March in every Yala Season and the third week in
September in every Maha Season from 2022 as Empty Plastic and Glass Packaging Collection Week and to implement the proposed program with the assistance of officials in the field of agriculture and Farmers’ organizations
7. Implementation of an Action Plan for the period 2022-2024 under the Memorandum of Understanding between Sri Lanka and Vietnam for Cooperation in the Agricultural Sector
Sri Lanka and Vietnam signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2006 aimed at agricultural cooperation. According to the provisions of the agreement, the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam and the Agricultural Research Policy Council of Sri Lanka are required to prepare and implement an action plan on mutual consent. Action plans for the years 2010-2011 and 2017-2019 have been prepared and implemented accordingly. Considering the importance of agricultural cooperation between the two countries, a new action plan has been prepared for the period 2022 -2024 with the agreement of both parties. Accordingly the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Agriculture to implement the action plan and to sign the agreement.
8. Galle Port Development Project
It has been identified the need of developing the Galle Port under the theme of ‘Tourist Destination and Secured Port’ which enable to maintain it as a regional commercial port. As per the Ministry of Ports and Shipping has planned to implement the Galle Port
Development Project under a public – private joint partnership project while not imposing limitations to the traditional services and attracting investments of the private sector. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal tabled by the Minister of Ports and Shipping to take necessary steps to implement the aforesaid project as proposed.
9. Transferring of a portion of land belonging to the Sri Lanka Ports Authority at Aluth Mawatha, Colombo 15 to the Ceylon Shipping Corporation Limited
In 1979, the Ceylon Shipping Corporation Ltd. paid the land value as per then government valuation to the Ports Commission and acquired a plot of land belonging to the Ports Authority at 18th Lane, Aluth Mawatha, Colombo 15. Five joint houses were constructed on the land in 1982 at the expense of the Ceylon Shipping Corporation Limited and out of them, three houses were used by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and the remaining two joint houses were used by the Ceylon Shipping Corporation. Although the Ceylon Shipping Corporation Ltd. paid the assessed value of the land, its ownership has not yet been legally transferred. Accordingly, the proposal made by the Minister of Ports and Shipping to transfer the relevant land in extent 29.53 perches to the Ceylon Shipping Corporation Limited was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
10. 10. Hope for Youth’ – National Youth Development Programme
The total youth population of Sri Lanka between the ages of 15-29 is 23.2% and numerically it is around 5.6 million. The Ministry of Youth and Sports has planned to launch a national youth program called “Hope for Youth ; “to address the challenges they face and their aspirations with the aim of actively involving these young people in the development process of the country. The main objective of this program is to reduce the youth unemployment rate from the current 28% to 12%. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal tabled by the Minister of Youth and Sports to replace the '';Yowunpuraya'' programme which was implemented until 2019 by the "Hope for Youth’ " programme which will be implemented from 2021 targeting all Divisional Secretariats through the National Youth Services Council.
11. Amendments to the Appropriation Act No.7 of 2020 – (Subject No.31)
Appropriation Act No. 7 of 2020 has approved a credit limit of Rs. 2,997 billion for the year 2021.However, The Approved credit limit has to be raised for the year 2021 due to declining government revenue under the situation that have arisen due to the Covid -19 pandemic and increased expenditure in several other sectors including health care expenditure as well as social security protection for those who have lost income, and having to make additional provisions for salaries and other expenses due to the loss of
income of institutions which are paid salaries from their income. Accordingly the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal submitted by the Minister of Finance to increase the credit limit of Rs. 2997 billion approved by the Appropriation Act No. 7 of 2020 by another Rs. 400 billion to Rs. 3397 billion and to take necessary steps to amend the said Appropriation Act.
