Cabinet Decisions

Pension for disabled military personnel

The Cabinet has approved a memorandum submitted by President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Minister of Defence, Public Security, Law and Order allowing provisions of full pension benefits to the service personnel who have been disabled as a result of operational duties, terrorist activities and law enforcement duties.

The following proposals will be implemented to provide relief service personnel who have been medically boarded out consequent to disability as a result of operational duties, terrorist activities and law enforcement duties and to the dependants on the death of such service personnel.

a) In the event that any male officer or female officer of the Regular or Volunteer force of the three Forces who has become disabled consequent to injuries sustained whilst on operational duty or any other law enforcement duties or as a result of terrorist activities duly charged on medical grounds having been determined by a Medial Board that he/she is unfit for military service, granting of a service pension based on the salary paid to a male officer on completion of 55 years having added his reckonable service to the period of time to be completed up to the age of 45 years or the revision of service pension which is already being paid accordingly.

b) In the event that any male soldier or female soldier of the Regular or Volunteer Force who has become disabled consequent to injuries sustained whilst on operational duty or any other law enforcement duties or as a result of terrorist activities is duly discharged on medical grounds having been determined by a Medical Board that he/she is unfit for military service, granting of a service pension based on the salary paid to a male soldier on completion of 55 years of age having added his reckonable service to the period of time to be completed up to the age of 45 years or the revision of service pension which is already being paid accordingly.

In order to grant Widows and Orphans Pension benefits to the widows and children who became lonely on the death of service personnel those who have married after they have been discharged from service on aforesaid reasons, recovery of Widows and Orphans Pension contributions up to the age of 55 years in case of male officers and soldiers and up to the age of 45 years in case of female officers and soldiers.

With the view of implementing these proposals the Cabinet has approved to amend Pension and Gratuities Codes, 1981 of the Three Forces and the Widow/Widowers and Orphans Pension (Armed Force) Act No. 60 of 1998.

Rs. 50 million loan to Paper Mills

The Cabinet has approved a memorandum submitted by President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Minister of Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development for the procurement of an interest free loan of Rs. 50 million from the General Treasury to increase the production in paper mills at Valachchenai and Embilipitiya of National Paper Company Limited.

Accordingly the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted to provide time till December, to restructure the two mills under the National Paper Company Limited and to direct the Board of Investment to expedite the selection of a potential investor paving way for restructuring the two paper mills.

New laboratory for fertilizer analysis

The Cabinet has approved a memorandum submitted by Agricultural Development and Agrarian Services Minister Maithripala Sirisena for the establishment of centralized laboratory for quantity analysis of fertilizer.

The cabinet has approved to improve the laboratory of the Ceylon Fertilizer Company and maintain same under the technical supervision of the National Fertilizer Secretarial and management of the Ceylon Fertilizer Company at a cost of Rs. 50 million.

Fund for regulation of fertilizer use

The Cabinet has approved a memorandum submitted by Agricultural Development and Agrarian Services Minister Maithripala Sirisena to establish a fund for regulations of the use of fertilizer by utilizing all the income collected by the implementation of the Regulation of Fertilizer Act. No. 68 of 1988 and to include a Section in the said Act to provide legal provision for utilization of the fund for the implementing of the Act.

IT system to link CPC and Petroleum Storage Terminals

The Cabinet has approved a memorandum submitted by Petroleum and Petroleum Resources Development Minister A.H.M. Fowzie for the installation of an online IT system enabling the management of both Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Limited (CPSTL) on a network linked with each other.

Accordingly a Enterprises Resource Planning (EPR) system will be installed and commissioned for the downstream petroleum industry in Sri Lanka.

After installation of the EPR system there will be online connectivity between all locations of CPC, CPSTL and LIOC and the required data will be available through an integrated network resulting in better coordination among the relevant branches of the three institutions.

Supply of bitumen to Road Development Authorities

The Cabinet has approved a joint memorandum submitted by Highways and Road Development Minister T.B. Ekanayake and Trade, Marketing Development, Co-operative and Consumer Services Minister Bandula Gunawardena to get 3,000 Metric Tons from the Sri Lanka State Trading (General) Corporation (STC), as they have indicated their willingness to supply bitumen to RDA on a one year credit basis.

The Cabinet also approved to instruct the Treasury to make arrangements to issue a guarantee to Sri Lanka State Trading (General) Corporation (STC) against the Budgetary Allocation which will be provided to the RDA for road maintenance, widening & improvement of National Highway Network.

Sri Lanka to hold Asian Productivity Seminar

The Cabinet has approved a memorandum submitted by Agriculture Development and Agrarian Services Minister Maithripala Sirisena for holding of Asian Productivity Organization (APO) seminar in Sri Lanka.

Asian productivity Organization based in Japan assist in enhancing the Productivity in industrial and agricultural and agriculture sector of member countries in the capacity as an International Organization. At present 18 countries in the Asia- Pacific region has obtained membership of this organization while Sri Lanka has been a signatory to the convention.

NIBM donates Rs. 20m for Technical Collage in Beliatta

The Cabinet has approved a memorandum submitted by Vocational and Technical Training Minister Piyasena Gamage for the exemption from paying of special levy imposed on National Institute of Business Management (NIBM) and donation of Rs. 20 million from the National Institute of Business Management (NIBM) funds to swimming pool complex at Beliatta Technical College.

Extended infrastructure facilities to Akkaraipattuwa Base Hospital

The Cabinet has approved a memorandum submitted by Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva for the infrastructure development at the Akkaraipattuwa Base hospital in Batticaloa district.

Accordingly an estimated cost of Rs. 88,388,996 (including VAT) will be spend on the reconstruction and renovation of ward rooms, on call rooms for doctors, and a pharmaceutical storage facility.