02. Introduction of guidelines for construction and maintenance of buildings in public and semi-government institutions as environment friendly green buildings
Many buildings are constructed in the current development process and it is essential to build them environment friendly. Therefore the concept of green buildings have been introduced to make a healthy environment in buildings and to minimize the use of utilities such as energy and water. That enables to build a healthy, pleasurable environment by minimizing the emission of green house gases. Development process of Sri Lanka has been planned to be implemented in an environment friendly manner and to minimize the impact on the environment from the construction field. It has been proposed to construct green buildings in Sri Lanka from 2016 to achieve these targets and as its first step buildings of public and semi-government institutions are to be constructed as green buildings.The proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment, to appoint a committee of officials to investigate the code of guidelines which has been already prepared in this regard and to prepare an action plan, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
03. Proposal to rationalize geographical boundaries in Sri Lanka
The smallest administrative unit of the Sri Lankan administrative system is the GramaNiladhari Division. At present there are 14,021 GramaNiladhari Divisions which have been combined with 331 Divisional Secretariats and 25 Districts. However, as some institutions are being acted regardless of these boundaries and with their own regional units, people who are expecting services from these institutions had to face several difficulties. As an example, 160 polling divisions, 336 local authorities, 340 divisions of Medical Officers of Health (MOH), and 311 Educational Divisions are being operated at present. Therefore the proposal made by Hon. Prime Minister RanilWickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, to prepare a programme remove these contradictions by deciding every administrative unit depending on GramaNiladhari Divisions by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs, with the participation of all parties, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
04. Preparation of an Act on Sustainable Development
Sustainable development means the development that meets the needs of thepresent without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. 17 sustainable development goals have been adopted by the global community specially covering recognized fields and sectors that should be gained at 2030 and the Sri Lankan government is also bound to it. Hence, the proposal made by Hon. Prime Minister RanilWickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, to draft legislations to make statutory provisions in achieving sustainable development goals, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
05. Accession to the Protocolto eradication of illegal trade in tobacco products
Sri Lanka was the first in Asia and 4th in the world to enter into the above protocol in 2003. Tobacco products cause many non-communicable diseases such as heart diseases. It has been revealed that a considerable illegal trade of tobacco products are done in the country. It seems dome underage persons and members of low income families tend to uses these cut-price products which is a severe threat to their health. It would help in implementing a fruitful tobacco prevention mechanism by accessing to the said protocol. Therefore, the proposal made by Hon. (Dr.) RajithaSenaratne, Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine,for accession to the above protocol, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
06. Relocation of Manning Market in Fort at Peliyagoda area
Colombo, Fort areas have been recognized as a combined development zone under the Colombo City Development Plan (2008-2020) prepared by the Urban Development Authority. Hence, the old St. John Fish Market has been re-established in Peliyagoda area and the Vegetable and Fruit Stock Trade Centre is also to be relocated in Peliyagoda are and the present Manning Market premises is to be used for provision of public transportation facilities. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon.PataliChampikaRanawaka, Minister of Megapolis and Western Development, to relocate the said Manning Market in a land of 25 acres owned by the Urban Development Authority in Peliyagoda area at an estimated cost of Rs. 4 billion, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
07. Construction of the proposed Commercial Complex of the KalutharaTown Centre Development Project
It is proposed to build a Commercial Complex with 140 commercial stalls and 39 office rooms, combining the bus stand and the railway station under the above project at an estimated cost of Rs. 200 million. The proposal made by Hon. PataliChampikaRanawaka, Minister of Megapolis and Western Development, to assume the construction to Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
08. Strengthening of the Plantation Management Supervision Division
Ownership of lands of 465 large scale estates of Janatha Estate Development Board and Sri Lanka State Plantations Corporation which have been leased to private plantation companies is still with the government and affirmation of that right is done by the Plantation Management Supervision Division under the Ministry of Plantation Industries. The proposal made by Hon. Naveen Dissanayake, Minister of Plantation Industries, to strengthen the Plantation Management Supervision Section for increase the productivity and quality of these plantations, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
09. “The nearest school is the best school” National Programme (2016-2020), Intended to Create a Generation of students imbued with virtues, wisdom and vigour through development of a system of Smart Focal Schools
The above programme has been planned to achieve the goals of the five point education policy of the government under the theme of ensuring equity in education in order to create an aesthetically minded, creative, and philanthropic child who is imbued with virtues, wisdom and vigour for the process of uplifting education qualitatively and quantitatively. The proposal made by Hon.AkilaVirajKariyawasam, Minister of Education, to implement the above programme by developing 650 selected schools as one or two schools selected from a Divisional Secretariat Division, and to give local and foreign trainings to Principals and Deputy Principals for their capacity development, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
10. Commencement of a sustained programme of administrative reforms
Hon. Prime Minister RanilWickremesinghehas revealed the government’s midterm development plan at the parliament through the economic policy statement. An efficient, active and modernized government mechanism is vital to achieve its targets. A major factor caused the development of countries like Singapore and Malaysia was the existence of an efficient and modernized administrative mechanism. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. SarathAmunugama, Minister of Special Assignments, to appoint a ministerial committee to introduce administrative reforms in this regard, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
11. Obtaining the service of external parties to undertake heavy repairs of carriages with the view of providing an efficient and comfortable railway service to the public
Approximately 450 carriages are required to provide the current service of the Department of Railways and these carriages must undergo a heavy repair in every two years. It is being done in the Ratmalana Railway Workshop. It has become difficult to perform sufficient amount of repairs due to the increase of carriages to be repaired. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. NimalSiripala de Silva, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, to invite competitive bids from reputed local industrialists for undertaking heavy repairs of 200 nos. passenger coaches while the work of railway workers are continued, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
12. Award of tender for supply of 30,000 vials of Human Immunoglobulin for IV Use 5-6g Vial
Above vials are used in treating patients with immune deficiencies. The proposal made by Hon.RajithaSenaratne, Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine, to award the above tender to the lowest responsive bidder as recommended by the Cabinet Appointed Standing Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
13. Award of tender for supply of 150,000 vials of Meropenem Injection 500 mg vial and 310,000 vials of Meropenem Injection 1 g vial
The above injection is used to treat infections as an antibiotic and the proposal made by Hon. RajithaSenaratne, Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine, to award the above tender as recommended by the Cabinet Appointed Standing Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
14. Award of tender for supply of 20,000 vials of Human Immunoglobulin for IV Use 2.5-3.0g Vial
Above vials are used in treating patients with immune deficiencies. The proposal made by Hon.RajithaSenaratne, Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine, to award the above tender as recommended by the Cabinet Appointed Standing Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
15. Award of tender for supply of 210,000 vials of Enoxaparin Sodium Injection 4,000IU in 0.4 ml prefilled syringe / vial and 322,500 Vials of Enoxaparin Sodium Injection 6,000IU in 0.6ml prefilled syringe / vial
Above injection is used in treating patients with heart diseases. The proposal made by Hon.RajithaSenaratne, Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine, to award the above tender as recommended by the Cabinet Appointed Standing Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
16. Awarding of consultancy services and construction contracts to government institutions
The Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development has initiated the “SukithaPurawara” town development programme to address major issues such as traffic congestion, parking, road safety, health, housing, recreational and economic issues occurred due to haphazard development in secondary cities in the Western Province. Accordingly, projects for developing strategically important towns in the Western Province are to be implemented at a cost of Rs. 6 billion in 2016. The proposal made by Hon. PataliChampikaRanawaka, Minister of Megapolis and Western Development to award recognized projects that can be performed immediately to government sector construction organizations or their subsidiary companies on design and build basis under the competitive bidding procedure, and to award contracts that may take some time due to reasons such as land acquisition to private sector consultant and contractors by following open competitive procurement procedure, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
17. Award of contract for construction of the Kataragama Circuit Bungalow for migrant workers
The proposal made by Hon. ThalathaAthukorale, Minister of Foreign Employment, to award the contract for construction of a Circuit Bungalow for the Foreign Employment Bureau at a cost of Rs. 141 million in Kataragama to the State Engineering Corporation, which is under the Ministry of Housing and Construction, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
