02. HOLDING THE ANNUAL CONGRESS OF THE NATIONAL UNION OF TRAVEL AGENTS (SNAV) OF FRANCE (Document No - 10)
As per the request made by the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau to the SNAV in France, with the objective of promoting Sri Lanka as a venue for holding Meetings, Incentive travel, conferences and events, the SNAV has decided to hold its annual congress in Sri Lanka. It will also contribute in promoting Sri Lanka as an attractive destination for French tourists. The proposal made by Hon. John Amaratunge, Minister of Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs, to host the above congress by the government which is to be held on 31st October to 02nd November 2016, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
03. HOLDING AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TOURISM SECTOR IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE UNITED NATIONS WORLD TOURISM ORGANIZATION (UNWTO) IN SRI LANKA DURING JULY 11-14, 2016 (Document No - 11)
The Ministry of Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs and Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau has taken steps to organize an international conference on “Tourism: A Catalyst for Development Peace and Reconciliation” with the participation of about one hundred foreigners including resource persons and journalists with the technical assistance of the UNWTO. It will provide an opportunity to showcase the national reconciliation process, the priority concern of the government. Prominent personalities including the Secretary General of the UNWTO, and Nobel Prize winner Dr.Muhammad Yunus will participate in the event. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. John Amaratunge, Minister of Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs, to hold the said conference at Pasikuda in Batticaloa from 11th to 14th July 2016 as a main component of the golden jubilee celebration of the Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
04. ‘ADARANEEYA SRI LANKA’ DOMESTIC TOURISM PROMOTIONAL PROGRAMME (Document No - 12)
It is important to promote and facilitate a tourism promotional program aiming domestic tourists to benefit the rural economy of Sri Lanka through tourism industry. The proposal made by Hon. John Amaratunge, Minister of Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs, to implement a promotional program aiming domestic tourists under the theme “see, feel and protect” in line with the golden jubilee of the Sri Lankan tourism industry (May, 2016) and to make a series of documentaries on attractive but hidden places, cultural heritage, foods unique to certain areas in each district and to use social media for tourism promotion, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
05. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR SOCIETY (STS) FORUM (Document No -15)
The proposal made by Hon. Susil Premajayantha, Minister of Science, Technology and Research, to conduct the above forum in Sri Lanka from 07th to 10th September 2016 with the participation of Hon. Ministers of Science and Technology of countries that has close relations with Sri Lanka in the relevant field, Nobel prize winners, high officials of other international organizations and domestic technical professionals in the public and private sector, industrialists, innovators, university and high school students and with the objectives of searching for opportunities that could be gained by Sri Lanka through developments in the global science and technology field, discussing the role of science and technology in the Sri Lankan society and analyzing the obstacles faced in application of science and technology in the Sri Lankan society, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
06. NATIONAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK (Document No -16)
Water, Food, Nutrition and Agriculture, Housing, Environment, Energy, Textile, Mineral resources, Software and knowledge services, emerging technologies and traditional knowledge are identified as 10 major fields that needs a broad application of science and technology. Through providing science and technological solutions in these fields, it is expected to improve the living status of the public, accelerating the economic development of the country, and to promote knowledge based economy in the country.
Accordingly, the National Research and Development Framework prepared with the participation of organizations and persons skilled in the field, prominent scientists and the public, and presented by Hon. Susil Premajayantha, Minister of Science, Technology and Research, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers as the Sri Lanka National Research and Development Framework.
07. SIMPLIFICATION AND MODERNIZATION OF THE INLAND REVENUE ACT (Document No - 19)
The Inland Revenue Act No 10 of 2016 provides legal provisions to impose income tax in Sri Lanka and due to periodical amendments made to the act since its enactment have made it complicated. Hence, simplification and modernization of the act according to acceptable tax principles that helps in attracting investors has become a timely requirement. The proposal made by Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, Minister of Finance, to instruct the Legal Draftsman to redraft the Inland Revenue Act according to international standards and improving clarity and transparency as proposed by the budget 2016, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
08. CONSTRUCTION OF HEDA OYA RESERVOIR AND DEVELOPMENT OF DOWNSTREAM INFRASTRUCTURE IN AMPARA DISTRICTS (Document No -23)
When considering the location and physical background of Pothuvil and Lahugala Divisional Secretary Divisions in Ampara District, it is evident that though it has a high potentiality for agriculture and animal husbandry its land and water has not been duly managed for the benefit of the people. Moreover, when compared with other areas it can be identified as an area with minimum common amenities. Around 6,500 hectares are being cultivated by tanks in Heda Oya, Wila Oya and Karanda Oya valleys. Paddy fields in the banks of Heda Oya are being affected by floods in Maha season while the lack of water in the Yala season impacts on cultivation. The proposal made by Hon. Wijith Wijayamuni Zoysa, Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management, to implement the Heda Oya Reservoir Project at a cost of Rs. 11,000 million, for controlling floods and provide water for cultivating both seasons, to ensure a continuous drinking water supply for Pothuvil, Lahugalla, Siyambalanduwa and Panama areas and provide water for additional 5,300 hectares by constructing a reservoir in the Heda Oya basin, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
09. RELEASE OF CONFISCATED SAND AND TIMBER (Document No - 24)
According to the cabinet decision to provide confiscated sand and timber for construction works in religious places for free of charge and concessionary prices, during the period 29-11- 2013 to 31-12- 2014, 1008 cubes of sand were released to 146 religious places and 1,043 cubic feet of timber has been released to 16 religious places. Religious places of worship have requested to extend this concessionary period and government institutions such as schools, hospitals and three armed forces have also requested to obtain confiscated sand and timber for their constructions. Therefore, the proposal made by Hon.Wijayadasa Rajapaksa, Minister of Justice, to provide sand and timber for religious places and public institutions for concessionary prices by further implementing this program, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
10. PROVIDING INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES FOR THE 4000 HOUSES CONSTRUCTED FOR THE PLANTATION SECTOR COMMUNITY IN UVA AND CENTRAL PROVINCES UNDER THE INDIAN GRANT HOUSINGPROGRAMME (Document No – 31)
It has been proposed to construct 4000 houses in Uva and Central Provinces during 2016-2019 under Indian grant assistance according to the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the governments of India and Sri Lanka. As its first phase 1,134 houses are being planned to be constructed in 2016. The proposal made by Hon. U. Palani Thigambaram, Minister of Hill Country New Villages, Infrastructure and Community Development, to provide infrastructure such as drinking water, electricity, access roads, earth retaining walls, and drainage systems for these villages, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
11. PROCUREMENT OF FERTILIZER – 2016 (Document No - 39)
The proposal made by Hon. Duminda Dissanayake, Minister of Agriculture, to procure fertilizer through Ceylon Fertilizer Company and Commercial Fertilizer Company which are under the purview of the Ministry of Agriculture, as recommended by the Cabinet Appointed Standing Procurement Committee for distribution in early May of Yala season 2016, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
12. ESTABLISHMENT OF A PIRIVENA IN SANCHI TO TEACH THERAVADA BUDDHISM IN HINDI LANGUAGE (Document No - 41)
The practice of Theravada Buddhism is declining in India, where it was widely prevailed in the past and there is no established institute in India to teach Theravada Buddhism. The proposal made by Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, to make necessary arrangements to establish a Pirivena in Sanchi to teach Theravada Buddhism in collaboration with the State Government of Madhya Pradesh, and to commence preliminary negotiations with the Hon. Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh during the upcoming visit of H.E. the President to Sanchi and to proceed with relevant activities, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
13. COMMEMORATION OF THE WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY (Document No - 42)
5th of June every year was declared as the World Environment Day to mark the day of the birth of the United Nations Environment Program, established with the view of raising the awareness of the world population on the conservation of environment and to bringing various environmental issues to the attention of policy makers. This year’s World Environment Day is celebrated under the theme Fight Against the Illegal Trade in Wild and the proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment, to conduct the national commemoration ceremony of the World Environment Day on 05th June 2016 in Matale District and to declare an Environment Week from 30 May 2016 to 05 June 2016 and to undertake relevant environmental conservation programs within the week with the participation of all government institutions, schools and local government institutions and with the active contribution of private and non-governmental organizations, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
14. CREATION OF A METHODOLOGY TO MEET THE SEED PADDY REQUIREMENT BY FARMERS THEMSELVES (Document No - 48)
It is required to produce 4.1 million Metric Tons of paddy to supply rice for the current population of the country. 1.2 million hectares are cultivated in one year during Yala and Maha seasons; while average paddy harvest per hectare remains at 4.2 MT. Quality of the seed paddy could be improved if farmers themselves produce the seed paddy from registered seed paddy. Production of seed paddy by using parachute trays is such low cost method. It has estimated that a kilogram of paddy can easily harvest 100 kg of paddy. It will be adequate to cultivate 2 ½ acres in the next season. The seed paddy requirement can be reduced by 75% through the parachute method and there is a possibility of minimizing the use of agro chemicals in weed controlling. Furthermore, the labor requirement for planting could also be reduced by 90%. The proposal made by Hon.Duminda Dissanayake, Minister of Agriculture, to facilitate 180,000 farmers in paddy cultivating districts under this program, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
