Cabinet decisions

COLOMBO: The Cabinet approved the establishment of a Police Academy at Wellamadama, Matara, where 500 police traineees could be accommodated at a time with educational and hostel facilities on a Cabinet memorandum presented by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his capacity as the Minister of defence, Public Security, Law and Order. The Academy is expected to be affiliated to the Ruhunu University.

The Cabinet approved payment of a bonus of Rs. 10,000 or two months nett salary, whichever is less, to employees of profit oriented State corporations or semi government commercial institutions on the basis of profit earnings for the year 2006 on a memorandum presented by Finance and Planning Acting Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya.

The Cabinet approved an expenditure of Rs.136.9 million to construct a building at No.609, Baseline Road, Colombo 10, for the Head Office of Ceylon Petroleum Corporation. On a memorandum presented by Petroleum and Petroleum Resources Development Minister A. H. M. Fowzie.

The Cabinet approved a programme of improving 100 schools in the threatened areas of Ampara, Monaragala, Trincomalee, Polonnaruwa, Puttalam, Vavuniya and Anuradhapura Districts at Rs.25,000 in respect of each school and affiliate them to National Schools. On a Memorandum presented by Education Minister Susil Premajayantha.

The Cabinet approved to present in Parliament a draft bill duly certified by the Attorney General to amend the Sugar Cane Research Institute Act No.75 of 1981 intended to rename the Sugar Cane Research Institute as Sugar Research and Development Institute of Sri Lanka.

On a Memorandum presented by Plantation Industries Minister Milroy S. Fernando. Accordingly, the draft bill will be forwarded to the Parliamentary Advisory Committee in due course.

The Cabinet approved the release of a Treasury allocation of Rs.210 million to the Central Cultural Fund for constructing a tsunami memorial museum at Telwatta, Pereliya in the Galle District on a Memorandum presented by Cultural Affairs and National Heritage Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.

The Cabinet approved the amalgamation of the Colombo Commercial Fertilizer Company Limited with the People's Fertiliser Enterprises Limited and establish as one Company under the name Colombo Commercial Fertiliser company Limited on a Memorandum presented by Agricultural Development Minister Chamal Rajapaksa.

The Cabinet approved to recommence the Sugar Industry in Hingurana as a joint venture under the joint management of the Government, the Browns Group of Companies and the Orix Leasing Company on a joint Memorandum presented by Minister Rohitha Bogollagama and Minister Milroy S. Fernando.

The Cabinet approved to obtain the services of the Gems Survey Company of the United Kingdom within a quotation of USD 5.2 million for the Geological Survey of Continental Dockyard Delimitation Project of Sri Lanka on a Memorandum presented by Fisheries and Water Resources Minister Felix Perera.

The Cabinet decided to ratify and implement memorandum of understanding signed by the Foreign ministers of the seven Member countries of SAARC at their 13th Conference at Daka, Bangladesh on November 12 and 13, 2005 ensuring mutual control and cooperation to enforce laws relating to the prevention of Custom Offences.

The Cabinet approved to allocate a house from the Dematagoda Housing Complex to the Gold Medalist Chintana Geethal Vithanage who represented Sri Lanka at the last Commonwealth Sports Festival and won a gold medal for weight Lifting on a Memorandum presented by Urban Development and Water Supply Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.