02. Facilitating field duties of the Department of Forest Conservation and Department of Wildlife Conservation. ( Document No. 07)
The Ecosystem Conservation and Management Project implemented with the association of the International Development Agency aims at conservation of Sinharaja, Knuckles, Kanneliya and Hurulu forest reserves and Yala- Lanugamwehera, Bundala, Udawalawa and Gal oya national parks with the help of their surrounding communities.
Accordingly, the proposal made by H.E the President Maithripala Sirisena as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment, to purchase vehicles required for field duties with the view of improving the capacity of the Department of Forest Conservation, Development of Wildlife Conservation and the Sustainable Development Secretariat, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
03. Studying the Long shore Sediment Transport along Southern, Western and Eastern Coasts of Sri Lanka. ( Document No – 09)
Coastal erosion in above coasts causes serious economic, social and environmental issues threatening its surrounding residents as well as development activities. Accordingly, the proposal made by H.E the President Maithtripala Sirisena, as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment, to commence the above study for making strategies for productive management of above coasts, and to obtain funds required to undertake the project, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
04. Filling the vacations of the Teachers’ Service in School in the Northern Province (Document No -11)
There is a large shortage of teachers for schools in Northern Province due to 30 year long war. As a solution to this issue, the proposal made by Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe , as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, to absorb teachers who are currently working as contract teachers to the permanent cadre possess basic qualifications according to the Teachers’ Service minute, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
05. Obtaining 100 Ambulances for Government Hospitals under Austrian Concessionary Loan Scheme ( Document No – 14)
The proposal made by Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, to enter into a loan agreement with ‘Raiffeisen’ Bank of Austria, for obtaining a concessionary Loan of 9.8 million Euros, on the above purpose was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
06. Amendment of the borders of Vedithalathivu Natural Reserve. (Document No – 18)
Above reserve of about 29,180 hectares was declared by the Gazette No. 1956/13 on 01.03.2016. With the view of improving the fisheries products export income to USD 1.3 billion at 2020, the government has planned to establishment an ‘Aquaculture Industrial Estate’ in Manthai – West Divisional Secretariat Division in Mannar District. The land identified for the project is 1,491 hectares and is in the Vedithalathivu reserve making it difficult to implement the project.
Accordingly, the joint proposal made by the Sustainable Development and Wildlife Minister Gamini Jayawickrema Perera and Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Mahinda Amaraweera to re-declare the borders of the above reserve by removing the land identified for the above project, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
07. Improvement of Bandarawela Water Supply Scheme (Document No.21)
About 2,000 families in Ella and Bandarawela Divisional Secretariat Divisions have been affected by Uma Oya Project and there is an increased demand for water supplies. Hence, the above water supply project should be improved.
Accordingly, the proposal made by the City Planning and Water Supply Minister Rauff Hakeem, to implement a project to improve the capacity of the above project by additional 2, 000 Cubic Meters, enabling it to provide 1,000 more water connections covering the areas of Egodagama, Veheragalathenna, Udaperuva, Kinigama and Heeloya, at an estimated cost of Rs. 225 million, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
08. Promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) Education in Sri Lanka. (Document No.23)
STEM education is essential in making a skilled labour force in the country the job market tends to be expanding in the above fields. Developed countries in the world have taken steps to promote STEM education.
Considering a proposal made by the Science, Technology and Research Minister Hon. Susil Premajayantha, the Cabinet has decided to appoint a Cabinet Subcommittee, which is comprised of the Ministers of Education, Higher Education, Vocational Training and Skills Development and Science Technology and Research to prepare a Strategic plan for promoting STEM education.
09 – 10. Proposals made by the Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine (Document No.24, 25)
Following proposals made by the Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Minister Dr. Rajitha Senarathne, were approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
To host the ‘Trad Med International 2017 Sri Lanka’ – the international symposium and the educational and trade exhibition in Sri Lanka from 23 to 25 November 2017 for exchange of specialization and new Knowledge on developing traditional methods in medicine with modern technology.
Development of General Hospital in Kilinochchi, Mannar, Vavuniya and Base Hospitals in Point Pedro, and Mankulam for improving the healthcare infrastructure in Northern Province with the financial assistance of the Government of Netherland.
11. 70th Independence Celebration (Document No 28)
The proposal made by the Home Affairs Minister Hon. Wajira Abeywardena, to appoint a cabinet committee chaired by the Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, for organizing and conducting of the 70th Independence Day celebration on 04th February 2018, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
12. Improvement of road infrastructure in the area of Homagama (Technological City) (Document No 30)
The Proposal made by the Megapolis and Western Development Minister Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka, to construct two new roads and to improve three existing road as mentioned below, at an estimated cost of Rs. 3,143 million for improving the connectivity of the Homagama Pitipana Technological City with the national transport network.
• New access road of 6.18km from Kottawa to Mahenwatta with four lanes.
• Construction of internal roads of 1.7km in State Universities in Mahenwatta.
• Improvement of 8.83km of Pitipana – Thalagala road including Dampe – Pitipana Road.
• Improvement of 2.9km long Uduwana Temple Junction Road.
• Improvement of 3km access road from Kahathuduwa to Kottawa – Thalagala Junction.
13. Implementation of a Middle Income Housing Development Project for Public Servants in Ragama area (Document No 31)
Above programme expects to construct 500,000 houses for middle income families within the next 05 years.
The proposal made by the Megapolis and Western Development Minister Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka, to implement a housing scheme with 400 housing units in a land of 03 acres owned by the Land Reclamation and Development Corporation, in Ragama area, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
14. Public policy on generating electricity with Liquid Natural Gas and providing required infrastructure (Document No 35)
The cabinet has appointed a cabinet subcommittee chaired by Special assignments Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama, at its meeting on 18-07-2017 to decide the public policy on above matter. According to its recommendations, the cabinet has approved to accept generation of electricity with LNG as a policy, and to implement LNG power plants with a capacity of 1,000 MW at 2019, and provide relevant infrastructure for import and unload of LNG in Sri Lanka.
15. Holding international summits related to agriculture field. (Document No 36)
Ministry of Agriculture has organized international summits together with Asian Productivity Organization, Asia – Africa Rural Development Organization and Centre for Integrated Rural Development for Asia -Pacific.
Accordingly, the proposal made by the Agriculture Minister Hon. Duminda Dissanayake, to host the following summits to be held in Sri Lanka, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
01. A workshop on Management of disaster risk in Agriculture and adapting to climate change from 11 to 15 September 2017.
02. An international summit on strengthening food safety standards from 31st October to 02nd November.
16. Development of Sports Infrastructure (Document No- 46)
The Government has taken step to construct ‘Provincial Sports Complexes’ in all provinces and additional 16 “District Sport Complexes” in other districts for improving sportsmanship in rural areas.
The proposal made by the Sports Minister Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, to construct 08 hostels to provide accommodation for 100 athletes, in 08 provincial sports complexes in Polonnaruwa, Badulla, Kilinochchi, Kurunegala, Digana, Rathnapura, Matara and Trincomalee at an estimated cost of Rs, 1,087 million, and to construct 06 indoor stadiums in remote areas to the sports complexes at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,050 million, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
17. Construction of a Research unit for the Agency for Control of Doping in Sports. (Document No-47)
Above agency was established under the Act No 33. of 2013, and a building for the agency is being constructed at Sugathadasa Stadium. The proposal made by the Sports Minister Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara to construct a laboratory Research Unit within that building, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
18-19-20-21.) Proposals made by the Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine (Document No 57, 58, 59, 60)
The following proposals made by the Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Minister Dr. Rajitha Senarathne, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
• Award the contract for construction of a Renal Treatment Unit at the Hambantota General Hospital as recommended by the Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee (SCAPC) to m/s RN Constructions (Pvt.) Ltd. at a cost of Rs. 210 million.
• Award the contract for construction at Lady Ridgway Children’s Hospital as recommended by the SCAPC to m/s Electro Metal Pressings (Pvt.) Ltd. at a cost of Rs.159.94 million.
• Award the contract for Construction of a building complex for Stroke Unit at District General Hospital, Polonnaruwa as recommended by SCAPC to m/s Link Engineering (Pvt.) Ltd, at a cost of Rs. 348 million.
• Award the contract for construction of a Renal Treatment Unit at the Trincomalee General Hospital as recommended by the SCAPC to m/s Electro Metal Pressings (Pvt.) Ltd. at a cost of Rs. 249.32 million.
22, 23. Proposals by the Minister of Power and Renewable Energy (Document No 61 and 62)
The proposals made by Power and Renewable Energy Minister Hon. Ranjith Siyambalapitiya to award following contracts as recommended by the CASPC, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
• Construction of 04 grid sub stations at Nawalapitiya, Ragala, Wewelwatta, and Maliboda to m/s Ceylex Engineering (Pvt.) Ltd. at a cost of Rs. 1,233 million.
• Construction of Nadukuda grid su bstation and improvement of Mannar grid substation to m/s Seimens Ltd. India, at a cost of Rs. 2,697.96 million.
24. Completion of the construction of the Urban Traffic Building of Sri Lanka Police.
Three floors have been completed of the above 11 storied building under its first place. The proposal made by the Housing and Construction Minister Hon. Sajith Premadasa, to award the contract for the rest construction work to CML – MTD Construction Ltd. at a cost of Rs. 388.5 million as recommended by the SCAPC, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
25. Amendment of Municipal Councils Ordinance, Urban Councils Ordinance and Pradeshiya Sabha Act. (Document No-68)
According to the amended Local Government Election Act, existing provisions should be amended to enable selection of members less than 40% of total members through a list.
Accordingly , the proposal made by the Provincial Councils & Local Government Minister Hon. Faizer Musthapa, to, amend the article 5 of the Municipal Councils Ordinance ,article 5 of Urban Councils Ordiance & Article 4 of Pradeshiya Sabha Act, as amended by the Act No.21 of 2012,was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
26. Preparation of a mechanism for management of the drop of pepper price (Document No-70)
According to the recommendations of the Cabinet Subcommittee appointed on 09.08.2017, the proposal made by the Primary Industries Minister Hon. Daya Gamage, to declare a certified price of Rs.900/= and to grant a maximum Concession of Rs.150/- by the government, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers. This programme will only be implemented until the price of the market reaches the level of Rs.900/-.
27. Making reliefs for Temples affected by the drought.
The proposal made by the Buddha Sasana Minister and Sustainable Development and Wildlife Minister Hon. Gamini Jayawickrama Perera to grant reliefs to temples, which are being given to people by the government due to the dry spell in the country ,was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
