Cabinet Decisions
National interest to underline tender awards
President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his capacity as the Minister of
Finance and Planning received Cabinet approval for the memorandum
submitted outlining steps that should be followed in recommending tender
awards relating to procurements giving priority in securing the national
interest.
Accordingly the Technical Evaluation Committees are required to
submit to Procurement Committees all material and information that may
be relevant to ensure that the national interest is given consideration
in the award of a tender, in addition to the technical aspects
evaluated.
Also, it is required that the Procurement Committee recognises
explicitly the national interest when submitting tender outcomes to the
Cabinet for approval.
Cabinet approval was sought upon a review of projects launched under
the ‘Randora’ infrastructure development programme.
The National Procurement Agency has issued guidelines related to
procurement, containing selection criteria designed to streamline and
make the process transparent.
The guidelines require obtaining financially the most advantageous
and qualitatively the best services and supplies for the country.
More specifically, the guidelines require, that a tender process
should ensure,
a. The least cost which brings maximum benefit to the Government
b. Optimum economic advantage to the nation
c. Maximum income in the disposal of assets or granting of rights,
concessions, or exclusive benefits
Road development projects at Nugegoda, Welikada and Colombo-Kandy
road.
The Cabinet has approved a memorandum submitted by Acting Minister of
Highways and Road Development W. B. Ekanayake, to implement three
projects funded by the People’s Republic of China.
Under this programme, a flyover will be constructed on the Colombo-Ratnapura
Road, the Welikada junction on the Kollupitiya-Sri Jayewardenepura Road
will be signallised and the Kiribathgoda-Kadawata section of the
Colombo-Kandy Road rehabilitated.
The Government of the People’s Republic of China has agreed to
provide the Government, A grant of US $ 10 million from China will help
reduce traffic congestion along the main arteries to the City of
Colombo.
Provision of annual allowance of Rs.50,000 and uniforms for cadet
platoon
The Cabinet has approved a memorandum presented by Education Minister
A. D. Susil Premajayantha to provide an annual allowance of Rs.50,000/=
and uniforms for cadet platoons in anticipation of the progress of cadet
activities in schools under the Education Ministry in collaboration with
the Defence Ministry.
Under the Manpower Mobilisation and Supplementary Forces Act of 1985,
the Cadet Movement, which was earlier under the Volunteer Force, was
inaugurated as the National Cadet Corps in 1988, and started to operate
under the Defence Ministry as a separate project.
The Cabinet has granted approval for
a) The provision of Rs. 50,000/- per platoon for maintenance,
according to the number of platoons functioning in schools.
b) The allocation of funds to every boy/girl cadet for a complete
uniform.
c) The provision of 3 meters of olive green uniform material to every
officer.
The expenses are expected to be covered by the allocations to the
Ministry of Education.
Importation of Murrah buffaloes to strengthen dairy development
The Cabinet has approved a memorandum presented by the Livestock
Development Minister, R. M. C. B. Ratnayake, to import of Murrah
Buffaloes to strengthen dairy development in Sri Lanka.
A Cabinet memorandum had been submitted by the then Minister of
Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation on 14.06.2005 to import 200
breedable Murrah cows for the National Livestock Development Board (NLDB)
to expand its breeding stock.
These animals were to be maintained as a nucleus herd at NLDB and
only their progeny to be issued to private farmers as breeding stock.
In view of the accelerated dairy development programme which is being
launched to increase local milk production, it is very important to
procure these animals and use them as a foundation stock to supply
breeding materials to dairy farmers, the memorandum stated.
Accordingly, 200 Murrah buffaloes (180 pregnant heifers and 20 stud
bulls) will be imported from India utilizing around Rs. 70 Million
depending on the exchange rates. Also Rs. 25 Million will be allocated
to Ministry expenditure for importation of buffaloes.
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