Decisions taken by the Cabinet of Ministers at its meeting held on 21.08.201

 

1. Amendments to Forest Conservation Ordinance (Document No. 05)
It has been identified the necessity of amending Forest Conservation Ordinance with in order to conserve forests for future generations, strengthen its contribution to the people in rural areas, further empower the Forest Officers on forest conservation, and protect mineral resources in the conserved forests. Accordingly the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal Presented by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment to draft a bill to amend the Forest conservation Ordinance inserting respective amendments to implement forest conserving legal frame efficiently and more effectively.

2. Partnership Project of reducing climate changes (Document No.06)
Sri Lanka is bound to contribute the global effort of green house gas emissions mitigation which causes climate changes since 2016. The cabinet approval has been granted to introduce wide range of activities that can mitigate the green house gas emission for 5 major fields (Power, Transport, Industries, Garbage and Forest). It is necessary to identify the amount of green house gas emissions of each field to reach the targets determined locally. Accordingly the cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment to obtain the scheduled grants to Sri Lanka for the project proposed with this purpose and implement the project.
3. Regulations to stop filling and destruction of wetlands (Document No.07)
The cabinet of Ministers has appointed a board of officers to find recommendations to impose a temporary injunction order to stop filling and destroying wetlands in Colombo Capital City Region, and to take necessary steps to conserve wetlands and name as protected areas. The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment to implement the recommendations of the aforesaid board of officers, as follows,
(i) Impose an injunction order preventing all the constructions and fillings with respect to wetlands in Colombo Capital City Region apart from an essential construction during an event which has a national importance or the constructions recognized in Transit Rail System.
(ii) Order the Director General of Wildlife to name the wetlands as protected regions except the lands surrounding Diyawanna Oya and Kimbula Ela where the development activities has already being conducted.

4. Construction of a new conference hall at Combined Service Language Training Institute, Kothmale (Document No.08)
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Defence to construct a modern Conference Hall facilitating about 150 trainees at a time instead of old Conference Hall with less facilities at Combined Service Language Training Institute, Kothmale.
5. Set up a Temperature controlled Storage at Dambulla for storing Agro Products (Document No.08)
It has been proposed to set up a temperature controlled storage facility with an investment of Rs. 475 million at Dambulla. The government of India has agreed to provide Rs.300 Million as a Grant. Accordingly the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe, in his capacity as the minister of National Policies and Economic affairs to prepare a method for the allocation and management of the funds to set up a Temperature Controlled Storage Facility at Dambulla.
6. The Project of improving Health Systems (Document No.10)
It has been proposed to implement a project with USD 60 million investments, to improve primary health services, strengthen the health and controlling of deceases in Uwa , Sabaragamuwa , Central and North Central Provinces, and for the preparation of policies and capacity building with respect to this project. The cabinet of Ministers approved the Proposal presented by Hon, Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe, in his capacity as the minister of National Policies and Economic affairs to enter in to agreements for securing funds . USD 12.5 million of the total investment as a Grant and USD 37.5 million as a loan relief.
7. Issuance of Sovereign bonds (Document No 16)

The government of Sri Lanka issues International Sovereign Bonds since 2017 in order to finance the Annual Budget. These Bonds are issued in US Dollars up to 2018. The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon.Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Finance and Mass Media to appoint a board of officials to study and provide recommendations regarding the capability of using Yen, Renminbi and Euro to access international Market.

8. Implementation of Passenger Transport Project associated with Inland Waterways . (Document No.22)
The cabinet of Ministers has approved to maintain a passenger transport service through the channel runs from Baththaramulla to Wellawaththa, from Fort to Union Place through Beira lake, from Mattakkuliya to Hanwella through Kelani river and other waterways as a Government Private Partnership Project. The Cabinet of Ministers considered the facts presented by Hon. Patali Champika ranawaka, Minister of Megapolis and Western Development regarding the implementation 2 year project from Fort to Union Place with the assistance of Sri Lanka Navy and purchasing of necessary vessels and construction of jetties.

9. Amendment of the name Institute of Post-harvest Technology as The National Institute of Post Harvest Management (Document No. 24)
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon. Mahinda Amaraweera , Minister of Agriculture to amend the name of the Institute of Post-harvest Technology as The National Institute of Post Harvest Management.

10. Increasing the Productivity of Rubber Plantation (Document No 25)
Considering the high cost to Rubber re-planting, the cabinet of Ministers approved the Proposal presented by Hon.Naveen Dissanayake, Minister of Plantation Industry to increase the subsidy for the new rubber plantations from Rs.150,000 to 300,000 and subsidy for rubber replanting from Rs. 175,000 to 350,000 per Hectare .

11. Providing facilities to increase the productivity of Coconut Industry (Document No. 26)

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon. Naween Dissanayaka, Minister of Plantation Industry to allocate funds for providing Coconut Tree Climbing Machines, Small tiller machines ,pheromone trap for red palm weevil, Grass cutting Machines, Spraying machines, and Coconut Trunk Cutting Machines for Coconut Land Owners and Kapruka Fund Members.
12. Providing Relief to increase the productivity of Small Scale Tea Estate . (Document No 27)
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon. Naween Dissanayaka, Minister of Plantation Industry to implement a project with the investment of Rs.250 million to provide 10,000 Water Tanks, 3500 Water Pumps , 4500 Spray Machines in order to encourage correct agricultural methodologies to increase productivity of the small tea estates.

13. Debt Conciliation Ordinance No 39 of 1941 (Document No 37)
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon. Thalatha Athukorala, Minister of Justice and Prison Reforms to gazette the bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman to amend the Debt Conciliation Ordinance No 39 of 1941 and to submit the same to the parliament consequently.

14. Commencement of New Tri Language Medium Mix National School in Nanuoya , Nuwara Eliya (Document No. 38)
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon. Akila WIraj Kariyawasam, Minister of Education to establish a Trilingual Mix National School in Nanuoya with an investment of Rs. 800 million for educating grade 6 to grade 13 students.
15. Commencement of New Tri Language Medium National School in Colombo (Document No 39)
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon. Akila WIraj Kariyawasam, Minister of Education to establish a Trilingual mix National School in Wellawatta area with an investment of Rs. 900 million for educating grade 6 to grade 13 students.
16. Establishment of 5000 Export Production Villages (Document No. 43)
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal of Hon. Daya Gamage, Minister of Social Welfare and Primary Industries to establish 1000 Export Production Villages in 300 Divisional Secretariats during 2018-2020 under the phase 1 and to increase the number of villages step by step up to 5000 Export Production Villages under the Ministry of Social Welfare and Primary Industries.
17. Construction of new Two Storied Buildings for South Navy Hospital of the Sri Lanka Navy (Document No 46)
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by H.E. President, Maithripala Sirisena in his capacity as the Minister of Defence to secure funds for the construction of two new two storied buildings with modern facilities at Boossa Navy Hospital.

18. Building Facilities for the staff of Navy Hospital complex (Document No. 47)
Navy General Hospital is consists of 684 staff and provide medical facilities nearly 450 patients daily. The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by H.E. President, Maithripala Sirisena in his capacity as the Minister of Defence to construct four storied Hostel building to facilitate the staff.
19. Purchasing of Accounting and Treasury Management System for the Use of Employees Provident Fund. (Document No.49)
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal Presented by Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Finance and Mass Media to perform procurement to establish new Computer System, instead of existing accounting and treasury Management System of the Employees Provident Fund.

20. Development of Borella Aurvedic Hospital as a Teaching Hospital ( Document No.52)
Under this project , a new building is being constructed as new wards complex. The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Dr. Rajitha Senarathne, Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine to complete electricity supply system, Water and Sewerage system as the second phase of the project.

21. Procurement for the construction of Kidney Treatment Unit in Badulla Provincial General Hospital (Document No.53)
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the Proposal Presented by Dr. Rajitha Senarathne, Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine to award the procurement for the construction of Kidney Treatment Unit in Badulla Hospital to M/s Orient Construction Company Pvt.Ltd. for Rs 668.2 million, in accordance with the Standing Procurement Committee appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers.
22. Procurement for the construction of Accident and Emergency Care Unit in Kalmunai Ashroff Hospital (Document No.54)
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the Proposal Presented by Dr. Rajitha Senarathne, Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine to award the procurement for the construction of Accident and Emergency Care Unit of Baudlla Hospital to M/s Link Engineering Pvt.Ltd. for Rs 926.5 million, in accordance with the Standing Procurement Committee appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers.
23. Procurement of Fertilizer (Document No. 68)
The cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon.Mahinda Amaraweera, Minister of Agriculture to purchase the fertilizer required for September by Ceylon Fertilizer Company Ltd. and Colombo Commercial Fertilizers Ltd. in accordance with the recommendation of Standing Procurement committee appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers subject to the following rates.
To Purchase Urea (Granular) 54,000 Metric Tons at a price of USD 305 per each metric ton, Urea (Prilled) 65,000 Metric Tons at a price of USD 325 per each Metric Ton from Agri Commodities And Finance and
To Purchase 15000 metric tons of Triple Super Phosphate at a price of USD 334.1 Per each Metric Ton from Swiss Singapore Overseas Enterprises

24. Awarding the contract for the construction of Grid substation under the project of National Transmission Network Development Plan (Document No. 60)
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon. Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Minister of Power and renewable Energy to award the procurement for the constructions and developments of grid substations in Kirindiwela, Baththaramulla, Biyagama, Kothmale, Veyangoda, Padukka, Kostama, Seethawaka, Thulhiriya, Rathmalana, Pannipitiya, Kolonnawa, Athurugiriya, Polpitiya, Ukuwela and Navula, to combined business of Mitsubishi Corporation and Ceylex Engineering (Pvt)Ltd.
25. Agreement regarding the Establishment of Biotechnology laboratory (Document No.61)
The Ministry of Science and Technology and the Government of China has entered in to a memorandum of understanding to establish a Combined Biotechnology Laboratory in Sri Lanka. Accordingly the Cabinet of Ministers approved the Proposal Presented by Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Minister of science, Technology, Research, Sill Development and Vocational Training and Kandiyan Heritage, to sign the second agreement consists of standards and conditions to strengthen the technical corporation between both countries.
26. Restoration of lakes and Cultivation wells drained due to drought in North Central Province
It has been identified that 12,000 Cultivation wells and 2000 lakes are drained due to the drought in North Central Area. The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon. Duminda Dissanayake, Minister of Irrigation, Water Resources and Disaster Management to take necessary steps through Divisional Secretaries to construct new public drinking water wells, excavate drained cultivation wells, excavate wells in drained lakes, restore drinking water wells through Farmers Associations.

27. Reconstruction of National Art Gallery
The cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Dr. Wijayadasa Rajapaksha, Minister of Higher Education and Cultural Affairs to allocate Rs.42 million for the reconstructions of the National Art Gallery.