02. Renewal of the Acquisition and cross-servicing agreement between Ministry of Defence of Sri Lanka and Department of Defence of USA (Document No – 11)
Above agreement was signed on 05 March 2007 for a period of 10 years on exchange of supply and services, training of staff and humanitarian aids in disaster situations and its validity period has expired. Accordingly, H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Defence, has informed the Cabinet of Ministers that the two parties have agreed to extend this agreement and the relevant agreement will be signed between the two countries in due course.
03. Establishment of national mechanism for mitigating of emission of greenhouse gases in Sri Lanka (Document No – 12)
As Sri Lanka is internationally bound to mitigate emission of greenhouse gases, the proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment, to implement National Appropriate Mitigation Actions successfully and for that purpose to nominate Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment as the centre for approval if projects, establish the relevant coordinating unit at Climate Change Secretariat, and to establish the relevant mechanism and institutional framework, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
04. Management of polythene use for minimizing its environmental impact (Document No – 13)
The proposal made H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment, to implement short term, medium term and long term activities recommended by the committee of intellectuals appointed in this regard, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
Short term measures
• Prohibition of polythene use for decorations in all events
• Implement the prevailing regulations for prohibition of use, sale and production of polythene equals or less than 20 microns.
• Allow use of polythene less than 20 microns for essential activities only on the approval of Central Environmental Authority
• Prohibition of sale, importation and production of lunch sheets
• Prohibition of sale, importation and production of containers, plates, cups, spoons made using polystyrene
• Prohibition of sale of processed or cooked meals packed in polythene containers
• Promotion of providing paper, cloth or reed bags or biologically degradable plastics for customers when purchasing items in stores
• Prohibition of burning polythene and plastic in open places
• introduction and promotion of biologically degradable polythene and plastics
Midterm activities
• Provision of tax concessions in importation of machinery used in biologically degradable plastic productions
• Imposing a cess tax of 15% on importation of plastic row material and goods
Long term activities
• Completely prohibition of recycled plastic products
05. Study on providing drinking water for people in Jaffna peninsula by developing water resources in Wadamarachchi lagoon (Document No – 15)
The main obstacle in providing drinking water to people in Jaffna peninsula is the lack of suitable water resources and therefore it has been decided to establish a seawater treatment plant as a solution.
In addition it has been proposed to store water from rains from October to December in Wadamarachchi lagoon to be used in a water supply project and accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study in this regard with relevant institutions, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
06. Introduction of a loan scheme for young graduates to start businesses (Document No – 16)
Applications have been called for provision of above loans and 80 applications have been received. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, to grants loans for 40 proposals which have been recommended by the sectoral evaluation committee through BOC and People's Bank, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
07. Obtaining vehicles on operating lease basis (Document No – 17)
The proposal made by Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, to obtain 800 bicycles and 250 land cruisers on operating lease basis instead of general lease basis considering the reduction of risk and loans to be borne by the government, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
08. Compensation for victims of the landslide in Meethotamulla Solid Waste Dump (Document No – 20)
Victims of the above incident have already been granted the reliefs which have been approved by the cabinet at its meeting held on 25 April 2017.
In addition to these reliefs, the proposal made by Hon. Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Minister of Disaster Management, to provide deceased persons of this disaster one million rupees as Rs. 100,000/- as the insurance cover for national disasters and Rs. 900,000/- from the General Treasury, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
09. Authorization of District Secretaries to response immediately in disaster situations (Document No – 21)
According to a proposal made by Hon. Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Minister of Disaster Management, the Cabinet of Ministers has decided to authorize District Secretaries to take immediate necessary action in relief operations and to bear necessary expenses in this regard as a national policy.
10. MoU between Sri Lanka Standards Institution and Standards and Research Institution of Bangladesh (Document No – 22)
The proposal made by Hon. Susil Premajayantha, Minister of Science, Technology and Research, to sign the above MoU during the official visit of H.E. the President in Bangladesh, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
11. Bilateral cooperation with Republic of Russia on technology and innovation (Document No – 23)
According to cooperation agreements made during recent official visit of H.E. the President in Russia, the proposal made by Hon. Susil Premajayantha, Minister of Science, Technology and Research, to implement a programme for providing short term training opportunities to Sri Lankan professionals in fields such as space technology and applications, robotics, and bio-engineering, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
12. ‘Osu Govi Herbal Products Company’ to continue under Ministry of Primary Industries (Document No – 24)
Above company was incorporated in 2007 and proposals were called to maintain it as a public private partnership but no suitable investor has been identified. Hence, to continue activities of this company the Cabinet of Ministers has decided to transfer its assets to the Ministry of Primary Industries.
13. Holding 6th SAARC Health Ministers' Meeting on 27-29 July 2017 at Colombo (Document No – 25)
In line with tha above meeting it has been organized to hold meetings of Health Secretaries, Technical Committees, and SAARC Committee of Experts on 27-28 July 2017. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. (Dr.) Rajitha Senarathne, Minister of Health Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, to host above meetings, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
14. Establishment of National Agency for Public Private Partnership (Document No – 26)
The proposal made by Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Finance and Mass Media, to establish the above agency with more administrative and financial powers instead of the Public Private Partnership section in the ministry, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
15. Amendment of Regulation of the Insurance Industry Act, No. 43 of 2000 (Document No – 27)
Above act has been amended with several amendments including renaming the Sri Lanka Insurance Board as Sri Lanka Insurance Regulatory Commission. The proposal made by Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Finance and Mass Media, to publish the prepared bill in gazette and subsequently present in parliament for approval, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
16. Rehabilitation and rebuilding of properties damaged due to recent disasters (Document No – 28)
It has been estimated that about Rs. 50-60 billion will be expended on the above purpose and it is about 0.5% of GDP. As it is difficult to provide new allocations in this regard, the proposal made by Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Finance and Mass Media, to obtain these funds without delay by reviewing priority of existing projects and part of allocations reserved for Supplementary Assistant Services and Emergency Requirements project, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
17. Proposed tax amendments on Soya and soya poonac (Document No – 29)
Considering a proposal made for providing tax concessions to soya productions, the proposal made by Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Finance and Mass Media, to implement several steps in this regard including continuing prevailing tax structure for soya beans import, exempt from duty the importation of soya seeds, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
18. Continuation of Weligama Coconut Leaf Wilt Disease prevention programme (Document No – 36)
Above disease has caused considerable damage to coconut cultivation in the Southern Province and a programme launched in 2008 to prevent the disease has stopped the spreading of disease outside the province. The proposal made by Hon. Navin Dissanayake, Minister of Plantation Industries, to continue the programme for further 03 years until the disease is completely controlled using Rs. 213.60 million allocations, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
19. Establishment of two (02) Liquid Natural Gas Power plants of 500 MW (Document No – 38)
Sri Lanka agrees to establishment of above plants by Japanese and Indian Governments. Accordingly, the joint proposal made by Hon. Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Minister of Power and Renewable Energy, and Hon. Malik Samarawickrama, Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade, to issue letters of interests to above countries, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
20. Payment of contributions for International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (Document No – 39)
Cabinet has already approved obtaining the membership of the above treaty and the proposal made by Hon. Duminda Dissanayake, Minister of Agriculture, to pay contributions for years 2016 and 2017 in this regard, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
21. Amendment of Prescriptions (Special Provisions) Act No 5 of 2016 (Document No – 41)
Above act enables persons who lost their property due to 30 year long war to gain them back and its provisions are valid till 25 April 2018. As there are many who could not still take any action in regaining their property under this act, the proposal made by Hon. Wijayadasa Rajapaksa, Minister of Justice, to amend this act for extending the period of the validity of its provisions for further 02 years, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
22. Allocation of lands to build houses for labourers residing in the land of Mahaberiyathenna Farm (Document No – 43)
The proposal made by Hon. P. Harrison, Minister of Rural Economic Affairs, to allocate 12 acres for providing 07 perches each for 210 labourers residing in above land for building of houses, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
23. Issuing of title deeds for houses constructed under estate housing projects (Document No – 45)
As the cabinet has approved providing a land of 07 perches for estate community, the proposal made by Hon. U. Palani Thigambaram, Minister of Hill Country New Villages, Infrastructure and Community Development, to provide formal title deeds for all houses constructed and vested in these communities from 2010 to 2016, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
24. Making relief to school children affected by recent disaster and rebuilding of damaged schools (Document No – 46)
472 schools in the country have been damaged due to recent disaster and accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Minister of Education, to relocate some of schools, rehabilitate necessary facilities including furniture, library, laboratories and sports items, and to provide 03 sets of uniforms and a pair of shoes for each student, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
25. Modernization of school class rooms for quality education (Document No – 47)
In line with the development occurred in the field of education, the proposal made by Hon. Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Minister of Education, to replace wooden and iron furniture in classrooms with PVC free polymer furniture within the next 04 years for making a better learning environment for students, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
26. Transfer of the land which Mahiyangana Unit of Sri Lanka Police College is situated to Sri Lanka Police (Document No – 48)
The proposal made by Hon. Sagala Ratnayake, Minister of Law and Order and Southern Development, to transfer the above said land of 141 acres, 03 roods and 11.03 perches, to the Sri Lanka Police, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
27. Construction of quarters for officers of the National Police Academy, Katana (Document No – 49)
Officers engaged in administrative tasks of the above college should be provided accommodation and 11 quarters should be constructed. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Sagala Ratnayake, Minister of Law and Order and Southern Development, to commence the project using allocations of 2017, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
28. Development of Digital Economy in Sri Lanka (Document No – 51)
Sri Lanka has gained a considerable growth in the digital field but it is not sufficient to develop the digital economy of Sri Lanka. Therefore, the joint proposal made by Hon. Harin Fernando, Minister of Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure and Hon. Malik Samarawickrama, Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade, to prepare suitable strategies for digitalizing the economy and to implement the proposed project, by these ministries, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
29. Future plan for export competition in Sri Lanka through entrepreneurship and innovation (Document No – 53)
The joint proposal made by Hon. Malik Samarawickrama, Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade, Hon. Susil Premajayantha, Minister of Science, Technology and Research, and Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce, to appoint 03 action groups, and to establish an entrepreneurship and innovation secretariat under the Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade, on implementing the above programme, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
30. Restructuring of Kahatagaha Graphite Lanka Ltd (Document No – 55)
A Cabinet Subcommittee chaired by Minister of Special Assignments and membership of other 07 ministers was appointed on the above matter and the Cabinet of Ministers has approved implementation of its recommendations.
31. Award of contracts for construction of buildings in universities (Document No – 59)
The proposal made by Hon. Lakshman Kiriella, Minister of Higher Education and Highways, to award following contracts, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
• 06 storied building for faculty of science in University of Colombo
• Lecture hall buildings for University of Kelaniya
• Buildings for Faculty of Technology in Sri Jayewardenepura University
32. Purchase of a PET/CT Scanner for Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama (Document No – 61)
The proposal made by Hon. (Dr.) Rajitha Senarathne, Minister of Health Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, to conduct the above purchase using money donated by a large number of donors, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
33. Reestablishment and improvement of Anamaduwa Technical College (Document No – 62)
The proposal made by Hon. Chandima Weerakkody, Minister of Skills Development and Vocational Training, to award the above contract as recommended by Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
34. Allocation of the land called 'Sathyavadi' in Kurunegala to a mixed development project (Document No – 63)
The proposal made by Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka, Minister of Megapolis and Western Development, to lease the above land of 01 acre, 01 rood and 21.15 perches to M/s Fairway Holdings (Pvt) Ltd for a mixed development project, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
35. Providing a pair of shoes for students in rural and isolated schools (Document No – 65)
The proposal made by Hon. Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Minister of Education, to provide a voucher for students from 2017 for purchasing shoes which enables them to buy shoes without delay, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
36. Establishment of Kawashima Compost machines in provincial level (Document No – 66)
The proposal made by Hon. Faizer Mustafa, Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government, to purchase 09 Kawashima Compost machines to establish 09 compost plants in all the provinces as a solution to waste issue in the country, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
37. MoU between Micro: bit educational foundation and Ministry of Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure (Document No – 67)
The proposal made by Hon. Harin Fernando, Minister of Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure, to sign the above MoU for implementation of the project called 'Awareness of internet of things through use of basic hardware', and to purchase equipments required in this regard, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
38. Introduction of electronic identity registration for Sri Lankans (Document No – 68)
The proposal made by Hon. Harin Fernando, Minister of Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure, to provide all Sri Lankans a definite electronic registration number, and ensure benefits given by the government are productively granted to relevant beneficiaries, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
39. MoU between Sri Lanka Institute of Textile and Apparel and Chittagong BGMEA Fashion and Technological Institution in Bangladesh (Document No – 71)
The proposal made by Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce, to sign the above MoU during the forthcoming visit of H.E. the President to Bangladesh, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
40. MoU between Ceylon Shipping Corporation and National Shipping Corporation of Bangladesh on naval enterprises (Document No – 72)
The proposal made by Hon. Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Ports and Shipping, to sign the above MoU during the forthcoming visit of H.E. the President to Bangladesh, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
41. Recruitment of graduates to public service (Document No – 73)
It is important to obtain the service of graduates in development process of the country and therefore, the proposal made by Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, to recruit graduates subject to a one year training period in district level for vacancies decided by the Department of Management Services, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
42. Report on midyear financial status (Document No – 74)
The proposal made by Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Finance and Mass Media, to present the above report comprising of financial status within first four months of the year 2017, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
43. MoU between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh for cooperation in higher education field (Document No – 77)
The proposal made by Hon. Lakshman Kiriella, Minister of Higher Education and Highways, to sign the above MoU between University Grant Commissions of two countries during the forthcoming visit of H.E. the President to Bangladesh, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
44. MoU between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh on information and broadcasting (Document No – 78)
The proposal made by Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Finance and Mass Media, to sign the above MoU for cooperation in the said fields during the forthcoming visit of H.E. the President to Bangladesh, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
45. Commencement of a public discourse on media rights and standards (Document No – 79)
The proposal made by Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, to appoint a Cabinet Committee to make recommendations to the Cabinet in this regard within 02 months, and to continue this process, which is being commenced in civil activist and semi-government level, through the Ministry of Finance and Mass Media, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
46. MoU between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh for economic and investment cooperation (Document No – 81)
The proposal made by Hon. Malik Samarawickrama, Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade, to sign the following agreements during the forthcoming visit of H.E. the President to Bangladesh, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers
• MoU on economic cooperation
• MoU between Investment Development Authority of Bangladesh and Board of Investment of Sri Lanka on investment cooperation
