02. Transfer of the land which the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is located to the Department of National Zoological Gardens (Document No – 08)
The proposal made by Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlife, to transfer the above mentioned land of 26 acres and 5.8 perches, which is currently owned by Land Reforms Commission, to the Department of National Zoological Gardens permanently for further developments of the orphanage, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
03. Control of bad impacts of droughts on forest areas (Document No – 09)
Bad impacts of droughts can be seen in forest areas in the upper part of the country such as forest fires, death of animals and animals reaching villages for water and cooperation of other public institutes is needed for controlling them.
Accordingly, the proposal made by Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlife, to implement the proposed activities in this regard through relevant Divisional Committees and District Committees, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
04. Recognition in Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to Sri Lanka (Document No – 13)
ECOWAS was established in 1995 and Sri Lanka has diplomatic relations with 12 countries out of its 15 member countries. The proposal made by Ravi Karunanayake, Minister of Foreign Affairs, to take necessary action for obtaining its recognition to Sri Lanka for gaining benefits, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
05. Establishment of National Loan Center for small and medium scale entrepreneurs (Document No – 18)
The proposal made by Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Finance and Mass Media, to establish the above institute for resolving the difficulties faced by small and medium scale entrepreneurs in obtaining loan facilities, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
06. Development of infrastructure such as roads, electricity and water in alternative lands given in lieu of lands acquired for the second phase of Hambantota Port Constructions (Document No – 30)
The proposal made by Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Ports and Shipping, to implement above developments with immediate effect, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
07. National Guidelines for Day Care Centres in Sri Lanka (Document No – 32)
There is an increasing demand for day care centres as the number of employed women are escalating and making standards and regulating is required in this regard. Accordingly, the above guidelines have been prepared with opinion of all parties and experts and they are proposed to be implemented under provincial Department of Probation and Child Protection. According to a proposal made by Chandrani Bandara, Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Cabinet of Ministers has approved these guidelines and to implement them under supervision of the ministries of National Policies and Economic Affairs, and Women and Child Affairs.
08. Establishment of new local government institutions and upgrading of existing institutions (Document No – 34)
The Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government has appointed a Committee of Experts with 12 members and the proposal made by Faizer Mustafa, Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government, to establish or upgrade local government institutes in the future solely under its recommendations, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
09. Procurement of required equipment for the troop participating in peace keeping operations in Mali (Document No – 41)
The proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Defence, to purchase above equipment from 03 institutions as recommended by the Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
10. Central Expressway Project - Selection of a consultant company for supervision of constructions of section from Pothuhera to Galagedara (32.5 km) (Document No – 43)
The proposal made by Lakshman Kiriella, Minister of Higher Education and Highways, to award the above contract at a cost of Rs. 2848 million, as recommended by Cabinet Appointed Consultant Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
11-12. Award of contracts of the Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy (Document No – 44 and 45)
The proposals made by Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Minister of Power and Renewable Energy, to award following contracts as recommended by the Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee, were approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
• Construction of an office complex at Anuradhapura for CEB at a cost of Rs. 213.4 million
• Transmission lines development project for obtaining renewable energy – purchasing of materials and goods for construction of 04 grid substations at Navalapitiya, Ragala, Wewelwatta, and Maliboda.
13. Concession Agreement of Hambantota Port (Document No – 46)
The above agreement which is to be signed with China Merchant Port Holdings Company Ltd (CMPort) was presented to the cabinet earlier and it has been revised to be more beneficial to Sri Lanka. Under the agreement Sri Lanka Ports Authority as the Public partner and aforesaid company as the private partner will establish the following companies.
• Hambantota International Port Services Co. (Pvt) Ltd – with a capital of USD 606 million and 50.7% shares to SLPA and 49.3% to CMPort.
• Hambantota International Port Group (Pvt) Ltd - with a capital of USD 794 million and 15% shares to SLPA and 85% to CMPort as in SAGT terminal and CICT terminal.
Accordingly, instead of 80:20 share distribution in the initial agreement shares of overall investment will be revised as 69.55 to CMPort and 30.45 for SLPA.
The lands will be only given to newly establishing 02 companies on lease basis and their shares are allowed to be purchases by SLPA as follows.
• After 70 years of effective date of agreement
At a fare rate decided by Government Assessor and an independent assessor.
• After 80 years of the effective date
SLPA has the right to purchase shares of CMPort and its affiliated companies at a rate of USD 01 as the SLPA's share holding in HIGP to be 60% and HIPS to be 76.8%.
• After 99 years of effective date
All the shares of CMPort and affiliated companies should be transferred to SLPA at a rate of USD 01.
The sole authority of managing the defence situation of the port is Sri Lankan government and use of the port in military activities is prevented.
According to the proposal made by Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Ports and Shipping, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved to obtain opinion of interested parties further, and table it in parliament and do further amendments according to proposals made at the parliament and subsequently to accept and sign the agreement.
14. Purchasing of equipment to treat dengue patients and take immediate action to control its spreading (Document No – 49 and 50)
According to memorandums presented by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and (Dr.) Rajitha Senarathne, Minister of Health Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved to implement following actions.
• Purchase essential equipments considering as an immediate procurement. To purchase immediately the goods which are in domestic market and to purchase others through foreign missions.
• Allocation of Rs. 300 million funds to the Ministry of Health Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine.
Approval was also granted to following actions for controlling the dengue disease.
(i). Implement instructions in circular issued by Presidential Secretary that pointed out that Department Heads are responsible of keeping their office premises free of mosquitoes.
(ii). Ministry of education to implement dengue controlling programmes in schools
(iii). Follow the method of Western Province of deploying field officers for checking each household by the other provinces.
(iv). Produce and publish short video clips and audio tracks by Ministry of Finance and Mass Media for making aware the public of importance of preventing dengue disease.
(v). Training of 2000 soldiers of Sri Lanka Army to provide treatment services to patients with the cooperation of the (Dr.) Rajitha Senarathne, Ministry of Health Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine.
(vi). Implementation of dengue prevention programmes by Medical Officers of Health, local government institutions, Divisional Secretariats, and Police Stations.
(vii).
15. Appointment of a Board of Governors for maintaining services of Dr. Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital, Malabe (Document No – 50)
According to the approval of the cabinet above hospital is to be acquired by the Ministry of Health Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, and it is to be incorporated by a parliamentary act like the Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital.
Accordingly, following proposals made by (Dr.) Rajitha Senarathne, Minister of Health Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine to maintain activities till it is incorporated, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
• Appointment of a Board of Governors with effect from 01 August 2017 for its administration and management under the Chairmanship of Dr. U.A. Ajith Mendis, Former Director General of Health Services.
• Provide RS. 200 millions of allocations monthly for its operational expenses from allocations of Ministry of Health Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine reserved for 2017.
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16. Establishment of a Pre Hospital Emergency Care Ambulance service in Sri Lanka (Document No – 51)
Above service was launched in Western and Southern Provinces with GVK EMRI Lanka (Pvt) Ltd and assistance of Indian Government on 29 July 2016 and at April 2017 it has responded to 236000 calls with an average responding time of 12.52 minutes. It has transported 130-135 patients daily. Considering the success of this project, the proposal made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, to provide fund to continue this project, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
17. Amendment of the dates of Provincial Council Elections (Document No – 55)
During recent period provincial council elections were held separately for several provincial councils causing bad impacts on financial, resources and democratic aspects. Considering this situation, the proposal made by Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, to amend relevant provisions in Constitution and Provincial Councils Act, to enable elections for all provincial councils to be held in the same day, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
