Salusala to handle the transport of school textbooks

The Cabinet has approved a memorandum submitted by Education Minister Susil Premajayantha to assign the islandwide transport of school textbooks for the year 2008 to Lanka Salusala Limited.

About 41 million copies of books relating to 336 school textbooks printed by the Department of Educational Publications are required to be distributed to 772 distribution centres. In one turn the running distance is about 150,000 kilometres.

As the distribution of books is conducted in three turns, and sometimes four, it will be necessary to operate a total distance of 1,200,000 kilometres. For this purpose about 1,200 lorry trips will be required to be operated. Therefore, the Cabinet has approved to assign the transport of school textbooks to Lanka Salusala Limited.

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Waste water disposal projects

The Cabinet has approved a memorandum submitted by Water Supply and Drainage Minister A. L. M. Athaullah on the waste water disposal project for Ratmalana/Moratuwa and Ja-ela/Ekala areas.

The aim of the project is the prevention of uncontrolled discharge of domestic and industrial waste water which pollutes the environment causing health hazards to the community living in these areas.

The Cabinet has granted its approval to award the contract to M/s. Pihl & Sons, Denmark/Lackeby Purac Sweden Joint Venture and to allocate the foreign and local funds during the implementation of the project.

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Appointment of Development Assistants

The Cabinet has approved a memorandum jointly submitted by Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister Karu Jayasuriya and Education Minister A. D. Susil Premajayantha on the recruitment of graduates who had completed the “Tharuna Aruna III” training programme for the posts of Development Assistant and Planning/Financial Assistant.

In the process of filling vacancies for streamlining the official activities in schools and other government institutions in the areas located in the

Northern and Eastern Provinces, which are liberated by the Armed Forces, it is necessary to recruit graduates to serve in the Posts of Development Assistants and Planning/Financial Assistants.

The main objective is to maintain systematic civil administration in these two provinces and to provide benefits for the school going children in their educational activities as well as to provide employment opportunities in

the Eastern Province. Therefore, the Cabinet has approved to recruit 2088 graduates for the above mentioned posts.

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Geological and laboratory equipments for Water Resources Board

The Cabinet has approved a Memorandum submitted by Irrigation and Water Management Minister Chamal Rajapaksa on the procurement of geological equipment and laboratory equipment for Water Resources Board.

It is widely acknowledged that the surface water in some areas is not suitable for human consumption and the use of that water may affect the health of the people. At present Chemical Laboratory of the Water Resources Board tests approximately 1,500 water samples and conducts about 500 hydro-geological surveys annually.

However, at present the available equipment are over 25 years old and this will adversely affect maintenance of quality and efficiency of the activities of the Board. Therefore, the Cabinet has approved to release Rs. 16.8 million from the Treasury to purchase the equipment.

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Regional bridge project

The Cabinet has approved a memorandum submitted by Highways and Road Development Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle on the regional bridge project using British government financial assistance.

After successful completion of the Bridge Rehabilitation Programme in Northern and Eastern Provinces, where approximately 80 bridges were supplied and installed under British government’s Concessionary Finance.

A comprehensive survey was conducted by M/s. Mabey and Johnson Ltd., in all other provinces and it submitted a proposal to supply 222 bridges. This project also follows the principles laid down in Mahinda Chinthana to provide transport facilities and infrastructure to rural communities.

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Electricity supply to Jaffna peninsula

The Cabinet has approved a memorandum submitted by Power and Energy Minister W.D.J. Seneviratne on the electricity supply to Jaffna peninsula. The supply of electricity to residents in Jaffna has been an important issue.

Therefore, to bring the power supply situation in Jaffna peninsula to a satisfactory level, the Cabinet at its meetings took various decisions during the past two years to resolve this issue.

Therefore, the Cabinet which met yesterday has granted its approval to appoint a Special Committee to study and recommend a contingency plan to meet the power situation in 2007 to 2010 and to bring in a legislation to set up an Energy Supply Committee to be valid for a specific period of time.