Cabinet Decisions
May 7, Monday, additional holiday for Vesak
The Cabinet of Ministers decided to declare Monday, May 7 as a Public
Holiday on a proposal made by Prime Minister D M Jayaratne.
Vesak Full Moon Poya Day and the day following Vesak this year falls
on Saturday, May 5 and Sunday, May 6. May 7, Monday has already been
declared a bank holiday.
MoU with Kuwait to protect Sri Lankan migrant workers' rights
The Cabinet of ministers granted approval to a proposal by Foreign
Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Dilan Perera to enter into a
Memorandum of Understanding with the state of Kuwait to protect the
rights and ensure the welfare of Sri Lankan migrant workers employed in
Kuwait.
About 260,000 Sri Lankans are employed in the state of Kuwait of
which 75 percent are female domestic workers.
This will be similar to the MoUs already entered with the governments
of UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Jordan on the field of employment migration.
MoU on Bilateral Labour Co-operation with Iraq
A proposal by Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Dilan
Perera to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Iraqi
government to create more employment opportunities for Sri Lankans was
approved by the Cabinet.
Iraq is in need of a large number of migrant workers as it emerges
from the period of conflict.
This is expected to increase foreign exchange earnings to the
country.
National Archives Act to be amended
The proposal made by National Heritage Minister Jagath Balasooriya to
amend the National Archives Act was approved by the Cabinet.
As the introduction of electronic documents are on the increase, it
has been felt necessary to formulate a legal framework to preserve
electronic documents
Construction of Kallady Bridge in the East to be expedited
The proposal made by the President, as the ports and highways
minister, to engage a sub-contractor to expedite the construction of the
Kallady Bridge on the Akkaraipattu - Batticaloa - Thirukkondiadimadu
road with JICA funding was approved by the Cabinet.
As the construction of this 288.35 m bridge was delayed by the
contractor when it was awarded in 2007, it has been decided to entrust
the task to a new contractor.
New railroad from Embilipitiya to Batticaloa
The Cabinet approved a proposal by Transport Minister Kumara Welgama
for the construction of a new rail road from Embilipitiya to Batticaloa
via Moneragala and Ampara.
The Cabinet decided to entrust the CECB to have a pre - feasibility
study on this project. On an earlier decision, a feasibility study is
being conducted by the University of Moratuwa to extend the Kelani
Valley Railway line from Avissawella to Hambantota via Ratnapura,
Embilipitiya and Mattala.
Combined teacher transfer policy for national schools, 1,000
secondary schools
The proposal by Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena to introduce a
new combined teacher transfer policy to transfer teachers for 342
national schools and 1,000 secondary schools under the Provincial
Council was approved by the Cabinet.
Under the present policy, teachers who have completed eight years of
service in provincial schools are given transfers within the schools
administered by provincial councils.
However, difficulties are faced by the authorities when teachers who
have completed 10 years service in the 342 national schools are
transferred due to the scattered location of national schools. Teachers
serving in national schools are transferred within those schools only.
Therefore, the proposed new teacher transfer policy will pave the way
for transfer of teachers among the 342 national schools and 1,000
secondary schools making it to balance the teacher needs by releasing
the excess teachers.
In addition to the annual transfer, teachers are liable to be
transferred on the basis of service need with the concurrence of the
education secretary in respect of national schools and the provincial
secretary of education in respect of provincial schools.
Implementation of Moneragala, Buttala Water Supply Scheme with
Belgian funding
The proposed project intends to provide pipe borne water coverage to
Moneragala and Buttala sub urban areas, including Madulla. Okkampitiya
and Buttala.
The project will cover 20 Grama Niladhari divisions in Moneragala, 19
divisions in Buttala and Okkampitiya and four divisions in Madulla.
The proposal made by Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh
Gunawardena to award the contract for euro 23.98 million and for the
General Treasury to provide Rs 1,385 million as domestic funds was
approved by the Cabinet.
9.500 kgs of chili seeds to be imported from India by Hadabima
Authority of Sri Lanka
It has been proposed to cultivate chilies in 5,000 hectares in the
Yala season and 12,000 hectares in the Maha season in keeping with the
food production programme for Sri Lanka to become self-sufficient in
chilies.
The proposal made by Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena
for the Sri Lanka Hadabima Authority to import 500 kgs of hybrid chili
seeds from India at Rs 70 million inclusive of duty and other levies was
approved by the Cabinet.
Sri Lanka spends around Rs 5,500 million annually to import chili and
needs 5,000 kgs of chili seeds annually but the local producers are not
in a position to provide the whole needs of chili seeds.
|
