DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE CABINET OF MINISTERS AT ITS MEETING HELD ON 13-12-2016

November 15, 2024

Cabinet Decisions

DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE CABINET OF MINISTERS AT ITS MEETING HELD ON 13-12-2016 ^Featured

December 14, 2016

01. Construction of a new building for the use of Army Women's corps (Document No – 07)

The Women's Corps of the army is located in an old building in a land of 92 perches in Kinsey Road, Borella and the proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Defence, to build a new building for their use in the same land at an estimated cost of Rs. 94 million, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

02. Construct the main sewerage system in Panagoda Army Camp (Document No – 08)

The Panagoda Army Camp established in 1952 consists of 07 regiment centres including Security Force Headquarters (West) Base Hospital, quarters for officers and other rankers. The sewerage system in this camp has decayed and it is meaningless to repair the existing system. Hence, the proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Defence, to construct a new sewerage system at an estimated cost of Rs. 80 million, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

03. Provision of accommodation for other rankers of Sri Lanka Army (Document No – 09)

The lacking of accommodation for other rankers in Army Headquarters and its affiliated institutions and Army Hospital has become an issue. Accordingly, the proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Defence, to construct a new building for providing such accommodation in a land owned by Sri Lanka Army in Manning Town, Narahenpita at an estimated cost of Rs. 239.12 million was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

04. Dam Safety and water resources planning project (DSWRPP) for future development activities (Document No – 10)

There is a need of an updated national water resources development and management plan and Mahaweli Master Plan has not been updated since 1978. Accordingly, considering the water use in next 30 years 03 water resources plans i.e. National Plan of Water Usage, Updated Mahaweli Water Resources Development Plan, and Integrated Water Resources Development Plan of the Mundeni Aru Basin have been prepared under DSWRPP which was commenced in 2007. The proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment, to keep these plans in the Department of National Planning to be used by any institution engaged in development activities in water resource sector, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

05. Training programme on skills development in the gem and jewellery industry (Document No – 11)

The objective of the Gem and Jewellery Research Training Institute is to increase the contribution of the industry in economic development, and accordingly, the proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment, to expand its training opportunities for providing foreign employment opportunities in this field and for developing the institute as an internationally recognized education institution, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

06. Signing of a Memorandum of understanding between Sri Lanka and Tajikistan on cooperation in tourism field (Document No – 14)

The proposal made by Hon. John Amaratunge, Minister of Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs, to sign the above MoU during the Sri Lankan visit of Tajikistan President on 13-15 December 2016, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

07. Signing of a Memorandum of understanding between Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan on political consultations (Document No – 15)

The proposal made by Hon. Harsha de Silva, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, to sign the above MoU during the Sri Lankan visit of Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon on 13-15 December 2016 on increasing bilateral relations and cooperation in political, economic, trade, scientific, technological and cultural fields, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

08. Signing of a Memorandum of understanding between Sri Lanka and Tajikistan on development of sports (Document No – 52)

The proposal made by Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Minister of Sports, to sign the above MoU during the Sri Lankan visit of Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon on 13-15 December 2016 on development of sports sector in the two countries, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

09. The National Policy on elimination of child labour in Sri Lanka (Document No – 16)

Sri Lanka has agreed to eliminate child labour at Global Child Labour Conference in 2010 held at Hague, Netherland and there has been a decrease of 50% in use of child labour from 2008/2009 to 2015/2016 indicating the ability of eliminating child labour in Sri Lanka. Moreover, the above national policy is essential in regaining the GSP+ of European Union. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. W.D.J. Seneviratne, Minister of Labour and Trade Union Relations, to adopt and implement the said policy, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

10. Construction of a safety centre for providing temporary accommodation for people affected by disasters (Document No – 17)

The Badulla District has been recognized by the National Building Research Organization as a landslide prone district and a safety centre for providing accommodation for victims is being required. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Minister of Disaster Management, to acquire a land of half an acre from the Balangoda Plantation Company for the above purpose, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

11. Construction of a building for the Out Patients department of National Hospital (Document No – 19)

The National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL) is the biggest hospital in South East Asia which comprises of 3300 beds and located in a land of 32 acres in Colombo area. Out Patients Department (OPD) of NHSL is still located in the building which it was initiated in 1948 and its infrastructures are not sufficient in providing a good service for more than 5000 patients arriving daily to the OPD. It has been planned to construct a new OPD with assistance from People's Republic of China, and accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. (Dr.) Rajitha Senarathne, Minister of Health Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, to enter into an agreement with the government of China for implementing this project, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

12. Establishment of Millewa Industrial cluster as phase I of the proposed Horana Industrial Township Development (Document No – 22)

It has been proposed to establish two industrial towns in Horana and Mirigama under the Western Megapolis plan. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka, Minister of Megapolis and Western Development, to establish the Millewa Industrial Cluster as the Phase I of Horana Industrial Township Development Project on public-private partnership and to transfer required lands from Land Reforms Commission to Urban Development Authority, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

13. Establishment of multipurpose Fishery Harbours in the areas of Uduppuwa, Delft, madagal and Chalei (Document No – 27)

The government plans to establish multipurpose fishery harbours covering fishery, commercial and tourism sectors. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Mahinda Amaraweera, Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development, to enter into a MoU with a Korean Company to undertake a feasibility study free of charge for establishment of fishery harbours with required facilities in Uduppuwa area in North-western Province and Delft, Madagal and Chalei areas in Northern Province, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

14. Improvement of Flood protection bunds in Kelani River (Document No – 32)

About 2/3 of the basin of Kelani River faces frequent floods which are in Colombo and suburbs. It has been observed that several weak points are in the flood protection dams at the flood situation in May 2016. The main reason for this was identified as activities of illegal residents. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Wijith Wijayamuni Zoysa, Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management, to implement a project of improving flood protection dams of Kelani River at an estimated cost of Rs. 1000 million was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

15. Construction of Mullaitivu Police Station (Document No – 39)

Priority has been given to constriction of new buildings for Police Stations and improvements to existing stations under the programme to maintain law and order in Northern Province. The cabinet has approved the building of a new building for the Mullaitivu Police Station in 2014 instead of the rented building but the constructions have been delayed. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Sagala Ratnayake, Minister of Law and Order and Southern Development, to initiate its constructions with immediate effect, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

16. Colombo National Highways Project – Improvement of road section from Godagama to Bope (16.740 km to 28.004 km) in Kotte – Bope road (B240) (Document No – 46)

Above project is funded by the Opec Fund for International Development. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Lakshman Kiriella, Minister of Higher Education and Highways, to award the above contract as recommended by the Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

17. Colombo National Highways Project – Improvement of road section from Kottawa to Moragahahena (1.0 km to 15.48 km) in Kottawa – Thalagala road (B239) (Document No – 47)

18. 'Awakening Rajarata' presidential programme -award of three contracts on highways development under 'let's awaken Polonnaruwa' District Development Programme 2016-2020 (Document No – 46)

The proposal made by Hon. Lakshman Kiriella, Minister of Higher Education and Highways, to award the contracts for development of a road section of 7.5 km with 4 lane tracks in Polonnaruwa urban area of Habarana – Batticaloa road (B529), improvement of 13.6 km of Dambulla – Bakamuna – Kalagahawela road (B615) and for widening and laying carpets in a road section of 5.06 km from Polonnaruwa to Polonnaruwa new town as recommended by the Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

19. Budget Financing 2016 and 2017 (Document No – 53)

There are local sources such as issuing government securities as well as foreign sources such as Foreign Currency Banking Units of state banks, foreign currency term financing facility, and international sovereign bonds. Such diversified options will enable low cost financing and will allow access of different investor communities who wish to invest in Sri Lanka. Accordingly, the joint proposal made by Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, and Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, Minister of Finance, to appoint a steering committee and a technical evaluation committee comprised of officers from General Treasury, Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs, and Central Bank of Sri Lanka, to proceed with a Foreign Currency Term Financing facility within the approved borrowing limit for 2017, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

20. Relocation of Kolonnawa-Kelanitissa 132 kV transmission line and Biyagama-Kelanitissa 220 kV Transmission line to facilitate construction of the proposed new bridge over the Kelani River (Document No – 54)

Above transmission lines should be relocated to construct the proposed six lane bridge that connects with Colombo-Katunayake Expressway. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Minister of Power and Renewable Energy, to award the contract of relocating transmission lines as recommended by the Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.