02. State Wesak Festival - 2015
It has been decided to hold the State Wesak Festival this year in the Mahiyangana Sacred City in the Badulla District. It is anticipated to obtain contributions/sponsorships for the programmes that will be held in line with this State Wesak Festival. The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Buddhist Affairs Karu Jayasuriya to obtain necessary allocations required for the activities that will be carried out under the State Wesak Festival - 2015.
03. Maintaining of the payment of the guaranteed price of Rs. 80/- per a kilogramme of raw tea leaves
The payment of a guaranteed price of Rs. 80/- per a kilogramme of raw tea leaves produced by Small Scale tea estate holders is a proposal included in the 100 days programme of the government. This proposal was also included in the Interim Budget presented to the Parliament by the Hon. Minister of Finance on 29th January, 2015. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Plantation Industry Lakshman Kiriella to pay a guaranted price of Rs. 80/- per a kilogramme of raw tea leaves produced by Small Scale tea estate holders under the 100 days programme of the government.
04. Programme to control the Weligama Life Wilt and Rot Disease - WCLWD that affects the coconut plantations in the area
The Weligama Life Wilt and Rot - WCLWD disease created by the activities of a tiny insect called Phytoplasma is a disease that destroys the coconut trees in the Weligama area. This disease was reported for the first time in Sri Lanka from the Weligama area of the Matara district. A sustainable cure for this programme has not been found so far in any part of the world. This disease has now spread to 12 Divisional Secretariat regions in the Matara District, 2 Divisional Secretariat regions in the Hambantota Districts, and 2 Divisional Secretariat regions in the Galle District. The relevant authorities have taken all steps necessary to prevent the spread of this disease to other areas/districts as well. The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Plantation Industry Lakshman Kiriella to continue the implementation of this project of preventing the spread of this disease for a further period of 3 years covering the years of 2015, 2016 and 2017.
05. The Sri Lanka Energy Sector Development Plan aimed at establishing a knowledge based Economy
This Energy Sector Development Plan has been prepared to provide on a maximum level from the Energy Sector the strength required for the development path of marching forward in the competitive international level making Sri Lanka as a knowledge based economy with a middle income economy. The prime objective of this plan is to provide a trustworthy, quality and profitable power sector service devoid of rich and poor, minimizing the regional discrepancies, safeguarding environment, and to provide priority to indigenous power resources The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Power and Energy Patalie Champika Ranawaka to implement this development plan from 2015 to 2025.
06. Revision to the Penal Code (Document No.22)
The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) was appointed to ensure to build a peaceful era by looking back to the armed struggle underwent by Sri Lanka, and through that experience to arrive at solutions for the problems that led to these struggles, and the Commission has made observations of incidents that have contributed to communal disharmony Since ‘hate speech’ and literature relating to ethnicity and religion exacerbate ethnic and religious tensions. According to the findings of the Commission, this is a vital need for political consensus, and for peaceful co-existence. Hence, The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Justice and Labour Relations Wijedasa Rajapaksa to request the Legal Draughtsman to draught revisions to the Penal Code to include deterrent laws, to strictly enforce such laws, publish the draft sent by the Legal Draughtsman for publication in the government gazette and present the same in Parliament for approval and enactment.
07. Memorandum of Understanding on Mutual Cooperation in Shipping Business between Ceylon Shipping Corporation and Pakistan Shipping Corporation
The parties believe that a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two organizations carrying the national flags of both countries will provide the structure and basis for implementing their future collaboration in the joint development of shipping business. The said Memorandum of Understanding is expected to be signed during the forthcoming State Visit to Pakistan by President Maithripala Sirisena. The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made
by the Hon. Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation Arjuna Ranatunga to make arrangements to sign this Memorandum of Understanding.
08.Rs. 550 Million (Japanese Yen 500 Million) Grant for provision of Japanese local products under Japanese Non Project Grant Aid – 2014/2015
The government of Japan has agreed to provide grant assistance under non-project grant aid amounting to Japanese Yen 500 Million (Approximately Rs. 550 million) in the Japanese fiscal year 2014 for provision of Japanese equipment to develop railway network and agricultural facilities in Sri Lanka. The equipment to be procured under this grant have been selected in consultation with the Ministry of Internal Transport and the Ministry of Irrigation and Agriculture. Equipment to be procured for Ministry of Internal Transport will be distributed to the Department of Railways and the Equipment to be procured for the t Ministry of Irrigation and Agriculture will be distributed to Government Agricultural Institutions. The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Prime Minister as the Minister of Policy Planning, Economic Affairs, Child, Youth and Cultural Affairs to sign the exchange of notes with the government of Japan for this purpose.
09. Submission of the Gazette notifications published for approval of the Parliament
Tax revisios made under various Acts in line with the 100 days programme of the new government and 13 gazette notifications published under the special commodity levy Act. No. 48 of 2007 are required to be submitted for the approval of the Parliament in accordance with the regal requirements of the said Acts. The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Finance Ravi Karunanayake to take action in this connection.
10. Signing the Academic Cooperatiom Agreement (ACA) on exchange and collaboration between Lakshman Kadiragamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKIIRSS) of Sri Lankaand National Defence University(NDU) of Pakistan
The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Prime Minister of Foreign Affairs Mangala Samaraweera to sign an agreement during the proposed state visit to Pakistan by President Maithripala Sirisena to sign an Academic Cooperation Agreement (ACA) on exchange and collaboration between Lakshman Kadiragamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKIIRSS) of Sri Lankaand National Defence University(NDU) of Pakistan to enhance the relationship between the two parties to contribute towards the multi-tier interactions between Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
11. On-going negotiations relating to establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
The Government of China official announced the initiative of establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in October 2013 which is scheduled to be established by the end of 2015. The Ministry of Finance and Planning participated at multilateral consultation meetings on the establishment of the AIIB as a founding member. Sri Lanka also signed the Memorandum of Understanding on 24th October 2014 expressing willingness to join the Bank with the 21 other countries of founder members Hon. Prime Minister as the Minister of Policy Planning, Economic Affairs, Child, Youth and Cultural Affairs informed the Cabinet of Ministers that accordingly Sri Lanka has also become qualified to participate in consultations and discussions related to the establishment of this bank.
12. Unsolicited Project proposals
During the last few years it was observed that the approval of unsolicited project proposals by the Cabinet of Ministers have increased and it has been a subject of criticism. As the cost of these proposals is not decided in a competitive base, the country had to bear an exorbitant expenditure.
The following proposal made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of Policy Planning, Economic Affairs, Child, Youth, and Cultural Affairs, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
Not to accept unsolicited project proposals as a matter of policy.
To act according to the Government Tender Procedure regarding all such proposals in the future.
To review the proposals which are under implementation in various stages and to present each proposal that gives a exceptional economic value to the country for the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers.
13. Introducing a guaranteed price for natural raw rubber produced by rubber smallholders
The proposal made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe to pay the difference between the certified price and the price in the domestic market to rubber smallholders by the Department of Rubber Development, based on the price in the domestic rubber market instead of the method which was earlier approved by the Cabinet of Ministers that had based on the price in the international market considering the reduction of rubber prices in the current domestic market, and to implement the said method with effect from 01st April 2015, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
14. Recruitment of a team of retired Police Officers to assist in activities of the Anti-Corruption Committee Secretariat
The proposal made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe, to recruit a group of retired police officers for a period of three (03) months on temporary basis to assist in performing activities of the Anti Corruption Committee Secretariat expeditiously and efficiently, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
