Cabinet Decisions

National Policy on recruitment of teachers from 2009 onwards

The Cabinet has approved a memorandum submitted by Higher Education, Minister Susil Premajayanth to recruit only first degree holders as teachers from 2009 onwards.

The objectives of the policy include the improvement of the quality of education, ensure the right of students to obtain their education from qualified teachers regardless of the geographical location of their schools and improve educational learning outcomes.

The Anticipated outcome of the policy implementation are to maintain the system with professional qualified teachers, achieve significant levels of learning outcomes of students by respective levels and disciplines.

Accordingly those who are qualified to enter the teaching profession and do so will be required to follow a one and a half year full-time professional training course at the NCoEs, The training course will be conducted in two stages.

Until a sufficient number of qualified graduates are produced in special disciplines, the NCoEs will continue with the existing procedures for producing Diplomates in these disciplines.

Transport of Diesel Multiple Units from China to Colombo

The Cabinet has approved to a memorandum submitted by Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma, to entrust the transport of 15 DMUU consisting of 90 from Port Qingdoa, China to the Port of Colombo at a total Freight Charge cost of US$ 3,759,165/= (SL Rs.407,531,077) to M/s Ceylon Shipping Corporation Ltd.

Sri Lanka Railways has already entered into a contract agreement with M/s Hubei Machinery and Equipment Import and Export Corporation and CSR Sifang Locomotive and Rolling Stock Co.Ltd of China for the supply of 15 Nos. DMUU at a total FOB cost of US$ 36,980,000/=.

Health facilities development in the Estate Sector

The Cabinet has approved a memorandum submitted by Healthcare and Nutrition Minister, Nimal Siripala de Silva, to hand over the construction and repairing of 24 hospitals to the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB) on trun-key basis for Rs. 102,350,000/= (with VAT).

A programme is under way to take over 50 identified hospitals in the Estates Sector by the Government and attend to their existing shortcomings immediately to provide a more efficient and effective health service to the people.

The treasury has allocated Rs.150 million to the Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry this year for the completion of the above project.

Minor employees' quarters in Uhana to be handed over to occupants

The Cabinet has approved a memorandum submitted by Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister, Karu Jayasuriya, to hand over the minor employees quarters constructed by the Galoya Development Board in the Uhana area to the current occupants.

A request to this effect had earlier been made by the occupants of 37 units.

The Ministry has taken several factors into consideration in seeking Cabinet approval for this purpose including the fact that these quarters are not been maintained by the Government and as these occupants have been residing in these quarters over a considerable period of time. Also, the occupants are Public Sector employees who have chosen to remain in the area despite the terrorists threat.

Requirements of hospitals in remote areas to be met

The Cabinet has approved a memorandum submitted by the Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, to award the construction work of several rural and district hospitals in remote areas to the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB).

Accordingly Rs. 52,158,798 (with VAT) has been estimated as the total cost for the completion of the construction work of the identified hospitals by the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB).

The relevant projects in the following hospitals are expected to be completed from the provision of Rs. 145 million allocated to the Ministry by the Treasury.

District hospital Kebitigollawa, Base Hospital Maha-Oya, District Hospital Medawachchiya, District Hospital Padaviya, District Hospital Welimada, Rural Hospital Meerahawatta, Rural Hospital Thambuttegama.

Development of health facilities

The Cabinet has approved a memorandum submitted by Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, to award the contract of the construction of building complexes of the Anuradhapura General Hospital and the Nuwara Eliya General Hospital to Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB).

Accordingly MO's quarters for General Hospitals in Anuradhapura and Nuwara Eliya will be constructed at a cost of Rs. 44,999, 979 (with VAT) and a ward for mental parents in the Nuwara Eliya hospital will be constructed at a cost of Rs. 14,133,960.

At the same time the General Hospital Nuwara Eliya does not have a facility to provide treatments for mental patients and the Heads of Psychiatric Unit have made requests to construct a ward without further delay.

CFL bulbs to religious places

The Cabinet has approved to a memorandum submitted by Power and Energy Minister John Seneviratne, to provide CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lamp) bulbs free of charge for the all religious places in the Country.

This step was taken to reduce the electricity consumption necessitated by the soaring fuel price in the world market.