02. Vissal Kandy Water Supply Project
The Japanese International Cooperation Authority (JICA) is providing funds for the II step of the 1st stage of the Vissal Kandy Water Supply Project, and it is being implemented for the fulfillment of the high demand existing for the pipe borne water in the Vissal Kandy area. Under the II step of the 1st stage, covers construction of a service tank, pumping station, official residences, transmission and distribution lines, and rehabilitation of roads. Since the estimated cost of the project has increased due to the newly introduced work scope of the project, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Urban Development & Water Supply and Drainage Rauf Hakeem to revise the expenditure estimates as per the recommendations of the cost estimation committee and the cabinet appointed procurement committee and to extend project completion date till 20th June 2015.
03. Augmentation of Kilinochchi Grid Sub Station
The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Powere and Energy Patalee Champika Ranawaka to award the contract relating to the Augmentation of Kilinochchi Grid Sub Station as per the recommendations that had been made by the cabinet appointed standard procurement committee by utilizing the funds remaining under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) loan proposal.
04. Development of District Base Hospital - Teldeniya
Under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) programme of carrying out improvement to basic social services targeting emerging regions Teldeniya Base Hospital of the Kandy district has been selected. In the process of developing the hospital it is needed to establish mechanical and electrical systems within the hospital. The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine Dr. Rajitha Senaratne to obtain an estimated additional allocation of Rs. 200 Million for this purpose.
05. Rural Roads Reawakening Programme – 2015
The Minister of Highways and Investment Promotion has made a project proposal for rehabilitation and development of rural roads in the country covering the 160 electoral divisions. The objective of the programme is to develop the rural roads in the country that have more impact on the lives of the people living in the villages and thereby improve the living standards of the people. All work under this project will be carried out by the community based organizations. Through this project the people of the respective areas will get the opportunity of participating in the development activities of their areas. It is also expected to generate a considerable amount of jog opportunities by providing raw materials and by providing of stones required for laying of concrete. The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Highways and Investment Promotion Kabir Hashim for the implementation of this project.
06. Amendments to the Maternity Benefits Ordnance and Shop and Office Employees (Regulation of Employment and Remuneration Act
The government sector employees are entitled to 84 working days leave irrespective of the number of confinements, a women employee has. Thus it is discriminatory of the private sector employees to retain the status quo as at present where two laws i.e. Shop and Office Act and the Maternity Benefits Ordnance Act grant only 42 days of maternity leave and maternity benefits in respect of 3 or more child births. Further, under the Maternity Benefits Ordnance Act the women in the Estate Sector get only 3/4th maternity benefits.
These anomalies have been highlighted by various organizations such as trade unions, worker groups, International Labour Organization and Human Rights activists. Taking these anomalies and suggestions into consideration the Minister of Justice Mr Wijedasa Rajapaksa has proposed to grant the employees of the private sector and in the Estate sector 84 days leave without taking into account of the previous child birds and grant the all maternity and other benefits as it is granted for the public sector employees. The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Justice and Labour Relations Wijedasa Rajapaksa to make necessary revisions to the existing Acts to facilitate provision of these benefits equally to all sectors.
07. Memorandum of Understanding on Mutual Cooperation and Exchange of News between the Government of the State of Qatar and the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
In line with the visit of the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Thamim Bin Hamad Al Thani a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of mass media between Sri Lanka and the State of Qatar is to be signed. A proposal made by the Minister of Mass Media Gayantha Karunatilleke to sign this memorandum of Understanding was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
08. Head works of the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project -Future Course of Action
The agreement signed with the Farab Company of Iran on head works of the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project is being implemented at the moment, and its present physical progress is approximately 47%. However, with the ingress of water into the main tunnel in 2014, numerous socio-economic issues have occurred such as drying up of wells, developing cracks in houses and destruction of cultivations, in 06 Grama Niladhari divisions of Bandarawela and Ella Divisional secretariat divisions. Therefore, the construction work of this project except essential works required to prevent the risk by sealing the water ingress in the Head Race Tunnel, have been temporally suspended since 16-02-2015 until a decision is made according to the recommendations of the Central Environmental Authority and the Special Intellectual Committee appointed in this regard. The respective reports have now been issued.
Many of the recommended measures are to be performed by the contractor and a post inspection mechanism should be arranged to prevent such situations in the future. The proposal made by President Maithripala Sirisena in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment, to rebuild around 600 destroyed houses, to continuously provide drinking water for the affected families by the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, and to appoint a Cabinet Sub-committee consist of the respective Minister and Ministers representing the area for presenting recommendations on the proceedings of the project, considering the recommendations of the Central Environmental Authority and the Intellectual Committee, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
09. Investigating Root Causes for Chronic Kidney Disease and Identifying water treatment technologies for affected areas
The chronic kidney disease is being prevailed in the North-Central, North-western, Uva, Central and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka, and it is believed that hydro geological constituents in the drinking water have caused this disease. The proposal made by the Minister of Urban Development, Water Supply and Drainage Rauff Hakeem, to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the Research Centre for Eco-Environment Science, China and the Ministry of Urban Development, Water Supply and Drainage for conducting further researches in this regard, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
