Cabinet Decisions

Construction of semi-permanent houses for IDPs arriving from Killinochchi and Mullaitivu districts

Cabinet approved a Memorandum submitted by the Minister of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Risath Bathiyutheen. The memo included the construction of semi permanent houses to IDPs arriving from Killinochchi and Mullaitivu districts and to exempt VAT on this project as granted to Gama Neguma and Maga Neguma programs.

It was decided to put up 8,000 semi permanent houses according to the needs of the five welfare villages.

Considering the urgency and need of these houses and the time involved in following an open tender procedure it was proposed to construct these semi permanent houses through the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau, State Engineering Corporation, State Development and Construction Corporation and Department of Buildings.

It is also proposed to obtain required cement and GI pipes and GI roof sheets from the State Trading Corporation.

Establishment of a limited liability company under the Ministry of Cultural and National Heritage

Cabinet approved a Memorandum submitted by Minister of Cultural Affairs and National Heritage Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to establish a limited liability company under the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and National Heritage.

This would provide a solution to the financial crisis now faced by the Central Cultural Fund. It would also lessen to some extent the burden now placed on the General Treasury in paying the salaries of the employees of the Central Cultural Fund.

SAARC Development Fund

Cabinet approved a Memorandum submitted by Minister of Finance and Planning, President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the ratification of the Charter of the SAARC Development Fund (SDF) signed in August 2008 at the SAARC Summit held in Sri Lanka and for the payment of the contribution fee for SDF by the Government of Sri Lanka.

The amount of the paid up capital has been decided, as SDR 200 mn. (Approximately US $ 324.65 mn).

Delegation of responsibility on Child Development and Protection to the existing Provincial Committees for Early Childhood Protection and Development

Cabinet approved a Memorandum submitted by Minister of Child Development and Women’s Empowerment Sumedha G. Jayasena recommending that the development and protection of children under 18 years should be entrusted to the Provincial Committees to which the responsibilities of Early Childhood Development and Protection is already assigned so that a wide range of functions could be carried out by the Provincial Committees through delegation of responsibility on the affairs of development and protection of children under 18 years.