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Cabinet Decisions

The Cabinet of Ministers which met on September 27th approved a proposal made by Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Christian Religious Affairs Jeyaraj Fernandopulle to enter into a new Air Services Agreement between Sri Lanka and Denmark, Norway and Sweden. This agreement will provide for traffic rights and authority to designate and authorize air lines with those countries and utilize airports facilities. It also provides for aviation safety security and other commercial and regulatory measures.

The other decisions taken at the Cabinet were:

US $ 25 million ADB loan for North East.

On a proposal made by the President in her capacity as Minister of Finance & Planning, approval was granted to obtain a loan of SDR 19.6 million (approx. US $ 25 million) from the ADB for the North and East Community Restoration Development Project. This loan will be utilized to finance part of the Government's relief and rehabilitation program for the North and the East.

ADB assistance for port expansion.

On a proposal made by the President in her capacity as Minister of Finance & Planning approval was granted to obtain SDR 7.8 million (approx. US $ 10 million) from the ADB for the project to improve efficiency and expand the Port of Colombo. It is expected to utilize these funds to realize the potential of Colombo Port. So that it will become a major international competitive port in South Asia. While providing for institutional and regulatory measures, it will also assist the preparatory arrangements for the implementation of the South Harbour Development Project.

Transport network through water-ways

On a proposal made by the Minister of Transport & Environment Dinesh Gunewardena approval was granted to initiate a project to develop the inland water-ways in the country. The objective is to develop a network of transport through water-ways, specially, utilizing the Hamilton Canal and the Kelani River. It will also identify other inland water-ways suitable for transportation.

New sewerage system for Negombo

On a proposal made by the former Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Public Utilities Mangala Samaraweera approval was granted to provide Rs. 5 million to carry out feasibility study and preliminary designs for the provision of sewerage infrastructure to the Negombo Municipality area. These funds will be provided in the year 2001 and 2003.

Pupil nurses to ayurvedic service

On a proposal made by the former Minister of Indigenous Medicine Tissa Karalliyadda approval was granted to amend the Ayurvedic Nursing Service Minute and recruit pupil nurses to that service. The Minute will be amended on the basis of the Ayurvedic Nurses Training Course of the University of Rajesthan, Jaipur in India and initially 133 ayurvedic pupil nurses will be recruited in three stages, for training.

Ampara hospital to be developed

On a proposal made by the former Minister of Health W. D. J. Seneviratne approval was granted to develop the Amparai hospital by the construction of one floor of the proposal building at a cost of Rs. 1.2 million. This is part of the hospital development program recommended by the Presidential Task Force and further projects under these recommendations will be taken-up in due course.

Accident Service Unit at Kurunegala Hospital

On a proposal made by the then Minister of Health W. D. J. Seneviratne approval was granted to construct the Accident Services Unit Phase II of the Teaching Hospital in Kurunegala. This project will cost Rs. 47.6 million.

Beira Lake Restoration to be expedited

On a proposal made by the former Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Public Utilities Mangala Samaraweera, approval was granted to appoint a Negotiating Committee and a Project Committee to select a developer to undertake the work under Beira Lake Restoration project.

Sri Lanka accedes to convention on plastic explosives

On a proposal made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lakshman Kadirgamar approval was given for Sri Lanka to accede to the Convention on the Marking of Plastic Explosives. This proposal was based on the recommendations made by a team of experts from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) which visited Sri Lanka to evaluate the aviation security position in the country, after the Katunayake incident. The accession to this Convention will vest Government with certain powers and duties to restrict the menace of plastic explosives such as those used by LTTE terrorists to attack the Katunayake International Airport and the Air Force Base.

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