Decisions taken by the Cabinet of Ministers at its meeting held on 12.06.2018

1. Establishment of the “Office for Reparations”  (Document No 06)

Cabinet of Ministers has grated its approval to establish an office for Reparations to provide reparations formally and transparently, to individuals affected by the conflict which took place in Northern and Eastern Provinces , Political of Civil disturbances or due to enforced disappearances . Accordingly the proposal made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, to gazette the respective bill prepared by the legal draftsman and consequently put forward for parliament approval.

2. Amendment to National Environment Act (Document No 08)

It has been identified the necessity of amending National Environment Act to meet the current and future environmental issues such as water pollution by factories, Urban garbage issues, and the problems coursed by illegal constructions. Accordingly the proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment, to amend National Environment Act No 47 of 1980 and instruct the legal draftsman to prepare bill necessary for these amendments was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

3. Funds for purchasing Locomotive Engines (Document No 11)

Cabinet of ministers has granted its approval for purchasing 12 locomotive engines with the intention of enhancing up country railway service. Accordingly the proposal made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, to enter in to an agreement for the provision of US$ 48.67 million from Standard Chartered Band upon the aid of Canada Exports Development Institute, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

4. Issuance of Title Deeds under the resettlement project of Awarakotuwa Muthurajawela (Document No 56)

Under the Muthurajawela Development Project executed in 1994, illegal residents were resettled in a part of the same developed land. Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal made by Patali Champika Ranawaka, Minister of Megapolis and Western Development, to grant title deeds for the families identified through a research conducted on providing title deeds for the residents.

5. Samurdhi Subsidy for 150,000 low income families (Document No 28)

Approximately 1.38 million families are Subsidized by Samurdhi Subsidy program. However it has been identified that there are families that should be subsidized but do not receive samurdhi subsidy. Accordingly the proposal made by Hon. P. Harison , Minister of Social Empowerment to expand this subsidy up to 150,000 more low income families as recommended by respective Divisional and District Secretaries, was approved by the cabinet of Ministers.

6. Implementation of “Sampath Piyasa” Program in Model Villages(Document No 32)

Under the model house village program of National Housing Program, provides low income or poor families the right of a land , house and settlement. There are 75 modern villages handed over to the people. Accordingly Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal made by Hon. Sajith Premadasa, Minister of Housing and Constructions, to set up a “Sampath Piyasa” unit which has been introduced by Central Environmental Authority , in each modern village, under the directions of Presidential Task Force.

7. Donation of Special Compensations for properties destroyed due to the incidents in Beruwala and Aluthgama

Government has provided maximum compensations under the existing regulations for damaged properties due to public conflicts in Beruwala and Aluthgama in 2014. However a Special Assessment Committee appointed by the District Secretary has recommended to compensate the household and other equipments which were not covered by the said compensation. Accordingly the proposal made by Hon. D.M.Swaminadan , Minister of Resettlement, Rehabilitation , Northern Development and Hindu Religious affairs for allocating Rs. 185.9 million to facilitate these payments, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers in principle.

8. Purchasing 160 Passenger Compartments ( Document No 38)

Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal made by Hon. Nimal Siripala De Silva, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to award the contract of purchasing 160 passenger compartments under the Indian Loan Subsidy, to M/s Rights Ltd for US$ 82.63 million upon the recommendation of Cabinet Appointed Negotiation Committee.

9. Establishment of Cost Estimates Review Committee ( Document No 40)

It has been identified that most of the contracts in relation with Government’s Infrastructure Development projects are exceeds the engineer estimates and the cost is being increased during the execution. Accordingly cabinet of ministers approved the proposal made by Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Finance and Mass Media to establish a Cost Estimate Review Committee consisting of respective officers under the Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs, in order to review the total cost estimates and Contract cost variances of infrastructure development projects under the authority of cabinet appointed procurement committees.

10. Delthota Water Supply Project (Document NO 41)

The proposal made by Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Minister of City Planning and Water Supply, to work with M/s M-U-T GmbH Institute of Austria and to call for proposals from the same institute for the implementation of Delthota Water Supply Project, was approved by the Cabinet.

11. Sale of Mineral Sands by Lanka Mineral Sands Institute (Document No 43)

Lanka Mineral Sands Institute is a government owned company executed under the Ministry of Industries and Commerce. Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal of Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce, to vend 25,000 tons of Ilmenite to Rescom Mineral Trading FZE at a price of US$ 145,25 per 1 MT, upon the recommendation of cabinet appointed procurement committee.           

12. Awarding the contract of consultancy services for the implementation of Uva Province Projects under the Second Combined Road Investment Program (Document No 45)

Asian Development Bank has agreed to provide USD 900 million for implementing this program. Cabinet approval has granted to implement these programs in Southern, Eastern , Uva and Western Provinces. In accordance with the recommendation of cabinet appointed consultative procurement committee, the proposal of Hon. Kabeer Hasheem Minister of Highways and Road Development to award the contract of supplying consultative services for projects in Uva Province including the Supervision of Constructions and Management of Contract to combined company of Pyunghawa Engineering Consultants of Korea and Consulting Engineers and Architects Associated Pvt.Ltd for Rs.1.154 million.

13. Development of the roads from Bibilla to Chenkaladi and from Padiyathalawa to Tampitiya

Loan facilities have been provided by "Soudi Fund" to develop 86.75 Km of the road from Bibila to Chenkaladi . Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal made by Hon Kabir Hashim, Minister of Highways and Road Development to award following two packages of contract executed under the same project, to Consulting Engineers & Contractors (Pvt.) Ltd. upon the recommendation of cabinet appointed standing procurement committee.

• Development of 29 Km road from Bibila to Padiyathalawa for Rs. 2,389.07 million
• Development of 30 Km road from Padiyathalawa to Tampitiya for Rs.2,295.63 Million

14. Appointing a Task Force to Conduct, Coordinate and Monitor the Development Programs in Northern and Eastern Provinces.

H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, informed the cabinet that the steps have been taken to appoint a Task Force under the chairmanship of president and consisting of Prime Minister, Provincial Governors, Officers of Armed Forces and Police in charge of the respective province and all the other relevant parties, in order to review, coordinate, conduct and monitor the Development Programs executed by the Government in Northern and Eastern Provinces.

• Reduction of Kerosene Price ( Document No 54 and 59)

Earlier, the Government decided to increase the Kerosene Price to some extent. However considering the requests made by Fishermen and the low income who use Kerosene, cabinet of Ministers approved the proposals of Minister Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and Minister of Rural Economic Affairs to reduce the Price of Kerosene 1 l from Rs.110/- to Rs.70/-.

• 2017 Annual Report of the Ministry of Finance (Document No 57)

In accordance with the provisions of Fiscal Management (Responsibility) Act No 3 of 2003, a report on final budget condition should be tabled in parliament by the Minister of Finance. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Finance and Mass Media to table in parliament the 2017 Annual Report of Ministry of Finance was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.