02. Establishment of a Bio Park and small mammal breeding centre at the bio-diversity garden at the Pinnawela Zoo
The Pinnawela Zoo which was opened recently is becoming very much popular among the local tourists. This zoo which is situated close to the Pinnawela Elephant orphanage has been established as an open area for animals and it has become a new experience for Sri Lankan tourists. The Cabinet of Ministers approved in principle a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Sports and Tourism Navin Dissanayake to establish a Bio Park and small mammal breeding centre at the bio-diversity garden at the Pinnawela Zoo and with the objective of the conservation of small mammals of Sri Lanka.
03. Regularising of the registration of tamed elephants and tuskers
Under the legal provisions of the Act relating to the protection of wild life and forests to retain the tamed elephants and tuskers domestically, it is necessary to register such tamed elephants and tuskers in the Wild Life Conservation Department and obtain a permit annually. Accordingly, 161 tamed elephants and tuskers under the custody of the certain persons, in addition to the elephants and tuskers under the custody of the Zoological Department, have been registered in the Wild Life Conservation Department. Recently complaints have been received about malpractices in the registration mechanism and capture of elephant and tusker cubs from the forests illegally. Investigations have also been carried out about these complaints.
Various suggestions and proposals have also been received in this connection from the members of the Maha Sangha, the Association of tamed Elephants and Tuskers and various other interested parties. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Sports and Tourism Navin Dissanayake to appoint a committee to streamline the retaining of tamed elephants and tuskers, and to take appropriate measures on the recommendations of that committee.
04. Proposed Memorandum of Understanding between the Human Resources Ministry of Malaysia and the Foreign Employment Ministry of the Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka on employment of domestic servants
The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Foreign Employment Mrs. Talata Athukorale to enter into two Memoranda of Understanding between the Human Resources Ministry of Malaysia and the Foreign Employment Ministry of the Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka to ensure in the employment of domestic servants and other personnel, protecting the rights of the immigrant workers and their welfare facilities
05. Bilateral air services discussions between Sri Lanka and Kazakastan
Representatives of Sri Lanka and Kazakastan have held discussions at Asthana of Kazakastan on establishing air services between Sri Lanka and Kazakastan. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Aviation Services Reginald Cooray to get the air services agreement that had been signed at official level between Sri Lanka and Kazakastan by an authorized agent of Sri Lanka and to take necessary steps after that to empower this agreement.
06. Greater Colombo Waste Water Management Project funded by Asian Development Bank
The Asian Development Bank has provided a loan amount of US$ 100 million to the Government of Sri Lanka to modernize the waste water network of the Colombo city and thereby to establish an environment for the people living in the Colombo city to live in a most suitable healthy atmosphere. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Public Administration. Provincial Councils and Democratic Governance, Karu Jayasuriya, to properly plan construction of the waste water pump houses within the city limits of the Colombo Municipality, and to award the related contract for establishment and renovation.
07. Dissolution of Secretariat of Strategic Affairs which is functioning under the Ministry of Defence
The objective of establishing the aforementioned office has now expanded to wide ranging areas. These include primarily the identification of new avenues for socialization of War Heroes with the civil society, and development of reconciliation among the communities and make them efficient. Since a research and development unit has now been established within the Ministry of Defence to achieve these objectives with a competent and trained staff, the maintaining of this office of strategic activities has become unnecessary and it has also become an additional financial burden to the government. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. President Maithripala Sirisena in the capacity of the Minister of Defence to dissolve this office.
08. Annual Report of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka
The proposal made by Prime Minister Hon. Ranil Wickremasinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of Policy Planning, Economic Affairs, Child, Youth, and Cultural Affairs, to submit the annual report of the Central Bank for the year 2014 to the parliament which conform to the provisions stipulated in the Monetary Law Act, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
09.Construction of a Multi-purpose Centre in Makumbura – Township Development component of Greater Colombo Urban Transport Development
The Makumbura new town development has been recognized by the Urban Development Authority and the Ministry of Transport as a transportation Centre that combines the bus and train services, in order to cater to passenger requirements. Accordingly, a bus terminal, a railway station, a bus/car taxi park and relevant roads are to be constructed. The proposal made by Hon. Rauf Hakeem, the Minister of Urban Development, Water Supply and Drainage, to award the contract for the construction of the Multi-purpose Transportation Centre in Makumbura under the assistance of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
10. Official Term of Local Government Bodies
Out of 335 Local Government bodies, official term of 234 bodies are scheduled to end on 15-05-2015 and official term of 65 bodies are to end on 31-07-2015, in 21 bodies the term ends on 16-10-2015 and in 02 local government bodies the official term is scheduled to end on 31-10-2015. Their official terms can be extended or shortened according to the provisions stipulated in Municipal Council Ordinance, Urban Council Ordinance and Pradeshiya Sabha Act which they are being administrated. However, the Minister of Public Administration, Local Governments and Democratic Governance Hon. Karu Jayasuriya has focused the attention of the Cabinet of Ministers, that in the future new members can be elected through an election under the new mixed electoral system, the official terms of Local Government bodies will not be extended.
11. Celebrating the Republic Day
Sri Lanka became a sovereign and independent state which is accountable to the public after the first republic constitution was passed on 22-05-1972. Instruction circulars are issued for celebration of the Republic Day which falls on 22nd of May each year and the proposal made by Hon. Joseph Michael Perera, the Minister of Home Affairs, to issue instruction circulars in this regard, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
12. Water Supply and Sanitation Improvement Project to be financed by the International Development Association of the World
The cabinet approval has already been granted for the Water Supply and Sanitation Improvement Project 2015-2020 which is implemented with a view to improve drinking water supply and sanitation facilities in 540 Grama Niladhari divisions in Mulativu, Kilinochchi, Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, Kegalle, Monaragala and Ratnapura Districts. The proposal made by Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, Minister of Finance, to engage in discussions and to enter into a financial agreement with the International Development Agency of the World Bank, for obtaining a loan amounting to US$ 165 million to implement the above project, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
13. Western Province Road Development Project and Rehabilitation of the A5 road and corridor from Badulla to Chenkaladi
Minister of Finance Hon. Ravi Karunanayake has informed the Cabinet of Ministers regarding entering into agreements with the OPEC Fund for International Development for obtaining funds for the projects of reconstructing 27 km roads under the Western Province Road Development Project and A5 road and corridor from Badulla to Chenkaladi.
14. Participation of the Minister of Finance to the 48th annual conference of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) which was held at Baku of Azerbaijan from 02nd to 05th of May 2015
The Cabinet of Ministers have noted that the Minister of Finance Hon. Ravi Karunanayake and several ministry officials have represented Sri Lanka in the 48th Annual Conference of the Asian Development Bank which was held at Baku of Azerbaijan. The Cabinet of Ministers have further noted that the Minister of Finance has participated in an un-official meeting of Finance Ministers of the SAARC region and several other meetings with the President and the Vice President of ADB during this visit.
15. Reconstruction of Theravada Buddhist Temples heavily destroyed by the earthquake in Nepal
People of Nepal have been largely affected by the recent earthquake and the Government of Sri Lanka has taken steps to dispatch relief mission personnel and to provide essential goods. The Sri Lankan Embassy of Nepal has reported that a number of Buddhist monasteries have been damaged due to the earthquake. The proposal made by Hon. Karu Jayasuriya, Minister of Buddha Sasana, Public Administration, Local Government, and Democratic Governance, to contribute in reconstructing one Buddhist monastery and one Hindu monastery, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
