Cabinet decisions:

Green light for formation of bus companies

Manjula Fernando and Rajmi Manatunga

COLOMBO: The Government has given the green light to private bus operators to form bus companies and regulate their industry.

Cabinet spokesman Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said yesterday that the Cabinet which met on Wednesday approved a memorandum presented by Transport Minister A.H.M. Fowzie to bring individual private bus owners together as companies.

"The decision was made on a recommendation made by a committee chaired by Dr. P. B. Jayasundera. It is aimed at improving the sustainability and quality of the private bus service," he said.

Among the other proposals of the committee approved by the Cabinet are the formulation of joint time tables for both the State and private bus services and following a uniform bus policy in all provinces.

The committee also comprised the Secretary to the Transport Ministry, heads of the provincial transport authorities, the National Transport Commission Chairman and representatives of private bus owner associations.

The private bus service in Sri Lanka which commenced in 1978 had no regulatory mechanism until the National Omnibus Act of 1983. Presently around 17,000 buses operate around the country. Nearly 90 per cent of these buses are owned by individuals.

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Eight storeyed office complex for Justice Ministry

The Cabinet granted approval to a memorandum submitted by Justice and Law Reforms Minister Amarasiri Dodangoda for the construction of an eight storeyed office complex for his Ministry. Consultancy services and construction of this project under the Design and Built method will be awarded to the State Engineering Corporation. The project's management work will be handed over to the Buildings Department.

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327 Isuru schools to be developed in five years

The Cabinet granted approval to a memorandum submitted by Education Minister A.D. Susil Premajantha for the development of Isuru Schools. A total of 327 Isuru schools will be developed in five years at Rs. 7,340 million. One school in each Divisional Secretariat will be fully developed under this scheme.

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Waiving of duty on imports of livestock breeding material

The Cabinet granted approval to a memorandum submitted by Livestock and Infrastructure Development Minister R.M.C.B. Ratnayake on waiving of duty on the imports of livestock breeding materials. Enhancing availability of animals with genetic potential is a basic necessity to a production improvement in the livestock sector.

The Cabinet granted approval to waive custom duty and VAT on imports of cattle, buffaloes, goats, pigs, sheep and poultry and their semen and embryos to be used in livestock breeding activities.

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Registering title to land

The Cabinet granted approval to a joint memorandum submitted by Agricultural Development Minister Chamal Rajapaksa and Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama on the implementation of the programme to register title to land.

This programme will function as Bim Saviya within the Gama Neguma programme. This programme will be implemented with local funds from 2007 for several years.

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Ban on export of ferrous and non-ferrous metal

The Cabinet granted approval to a memorandum submitted by Industrial Development Minister Kumara Welgama on the ban on export of ferrous, non-ferrous scrap metal as well as metal ingots/billets. The ban imposed six months ago, expires on November 10, 2006.

In spite of the measures taken by the Government, continuous export of ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal is being made by scrupulous means such as conversion into ingots/billets by causing severe problems to the local foundry industries.

Therefore, the Cabinet granted approval to continue the ban for two years.

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Kabool Lace employees to be compensated

The Cabinet granted approval to a memorandum submitted by Labour Relations and Foreign Employment Minister Athauda Seneviratne on Kabool Lace (Pvt) Ltd. at Mattegama. This factory was closed in 2004. There were 752 employees. The Minister sought Cabinet approval to pay compensation to these employees as well as to find a new investors through the Board of Investment as early as possible as the sophisticated equipment would get deteriorated with time.

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Cultural Property Act to be amended

The Cabinet granted approval to a memorandum submitted by Cultural Affairs and National Heritage Minister Mahinda Yapa Abewardane on the amendment of the Cultural Property Act No. 73 of 1988 to provide for the intensification of penalties imposed on improper use and the prevention of exporting cultural properties.

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Temporary employees to be confirmed

The Cabinet granted approval to a Memorandum submitted by Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama to confirm the appointments of the temporary employees who had completed a service period of 180 days continuously on July 1, 2005. This would be applicable for drivers and office assistants in Government institutions, corporations and statutory bodies.