News.lk - The Official Government News Portal of Sri Lanka

01.    Construction of a hybrid energy park of 240 Mw of wind power and 800 MW of solar power plants at Punarin Area (Document No – 12)

According to the government's policy to add a considerable amount of electricity to national grid through renewable energy sources, the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority has recognized northern area of the country as a suitable area to build wind power and solar power plants. Accordingly, the proposal made by the Minister of Power and Renewable Energy, to implement the above project in three stages, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE CABINET OF MINISTERS AT ITS MEETING HELD ON 16-05-2017

01.    MOU between Sri Lanka and Netherland on providing security for commercial ships with Netherland flag (Document No – 06)

Government of Netherland has requested Sri Lanka to provide services of Sri Lankan Navy for the Netherland Navy brigade serving in Indian Ocean off Somali coast on payment basis. Accordingly, the proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Defence, to sign the above MoU on providing these services between Ministries of Defence in two countries, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

01.    Amendment to the Explosives Ordinance no 21 of 1956 (Document No – 06)

A committee appointed for making recommendations on amending the above act has made several recommendations including provisions for issuing license for suppliers, validity period of licenses and creating a post called 'Additional Controller of Explosives'. Accordingly, the proposal made by HE the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Defence, to amend the above act by including those recommendations, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

01.    Issuing permits for passenger transport buses in Southern Expressway (Document No – 12)

The proposal made by Hon. Nimal Siripala de Silva, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, to amend the relevant selection criteria and articles in National Transport Commission Act according to the order issued by the Supreme Court and instructions by the Attorney General, and to call for tenders again giving priority to permit holders in the Galle Road, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

01.    Improvement of Marine rescue services (Document No – 10)

According to international conventions regarding air and marine transportation signed by Sri Lanka a 'Marine Rescue Coordination Centre' should be maintained. This responsibility is currently born by Marine Shipping Secretariat and they have assigned the task to Sri Lanka Navy.

It has been proposed to implement an infrastructure improvement project for the above Coordinating Centre with the partnership of Merchant Shipping Secretariat, Sri Lanka Air Force and Coast Guard Department. Its main centre will be established in Colombo, and Secondary Centre will be located in Hambantota. Subunits will be located in 07 strategically important places, i.e. Galle, Trincomalee, Point Pedro, Mollikulam, Arugambay, Batticaloa, and Kallarawa. The proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Defence, to commence this project in 2017 and to complete within 04 years, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

01.    Implementation of 'Shrama Shakthi' programme for alleviation of poverty (Document No – 05)

The poverty of Sri Lanka which was 26.1% in 1990 could be reduced to 6.7% in 2011 with various social security programmes implemented in the past. 2017 has been declared as the year of elimination of poverty in Sri Lanka and further steps should be taken to achieve this goal.

01.    Draft concept paper and framework for Grama Rajya (Document No – 06)

The government has paid its attention on implementing Grama Rajya concept with the objectives of enable public to actively contribute in the development of their region, affirm a comprehensive and sustainable society with social equity, provide a platform of exchanging ideas on development between the communities and the government. A committee of experts in the field has prepared the above concept paper and framework and the Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee on Internal Administration and Public Management has made its observations. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, to publish the said concept paper and framework in the website of the Prime Minister's officer for obtaining public views, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

01.    Accelerating Government's procurement procedure (Document No – 06)

H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena has presented following decisions taken at the meeting held on 03-02-2017 with the participation of himself, Hon. Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, relevant government officers, members of Procurement Commission and Procurement Appeal Board for the consideration of the Cabinet of Ministers.