Cabinet Decisions

Provision of assistance in improving drainage systems within Manik Farm Zones in Vavuniya

Cabinet granted approval to a Memorandum submitted by Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe to construct drainage system in Zone 1, 3 and 4 in Manik Farm, Vavuniya.

United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) agreed to provide funding through the United Nations Development Program.

The granted among agreed was US$ 467,025 equivalent to Rs. 52.9 million. The activities carried out under this funding include; designing the storm water drainage system, construction of drainage canals and construction of culverts in Zone 1, 3 and 4 of Manik Farm.

Technical and management assistance in the drainage network construction are also being provided.

Fourth Amendment to cosmetics Device and Drugs Act No:27 of 1980

Cabinet granted approval to a memorandum submitted by Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva to instruct the Legal Draughtsman Department to draft the same and to effect and the necessary changes which are incidental to the proposed amendments.

This Act was amended by the Cosmetic Device and Drugs Act 1980 was amended by Act No. 38 of 1984 and Act No. 25 of 1987, Act No. 12 of 1993.

There are 17 major amendments proposed in the draft including, Section 3- Prohibition on cosmetics, Section 5- Prohibition on device, Section 9 - Prohibition on drugs, Section 15 - Prohibition of sample drug, Section 18- appointment of meters to technical advisory committee

Section 20- delegation of powers to the Director/Deputy Director cosmetic devices and drug administration and to the authorized officers, Section 21 - authorized officers

Section 22 - power of authorized officers, Section 23 - Procedures respect articles and vehicles seized, Section 24 - offences, Section 26- analysis, Section 27 - regarding giving priority by the courts, Section 28 - amendment of sub section (b), Section 40 - interpretation and Schedule E- amending by deleting the word Thalidomide.

There was a committee appointed to look into matters and there were workshops conducted in this regard and all opinions and advices of the relevant stakeholders also considered in making the amendments.

Construction of secretariat building Surekum Piyasa for Employees' Provident Fund

Cabinet granted approval to a memorandum submitted by Labour Relations and Manpower Minister Athauda Seneviratne to construct a 29 storied building named Surekum Piyasa in the land owned by the Labour Department which is adjoining the present Labour Secretariat.

It also approved to utilize Rs. 3.410 billion out of the Employees Trust Fund monies and the balance Rs. 4.174 billion to be borne by the Employees' Provident Fund totalling Rs. 7.585 billion, to appoint a Technical Evaluation Committee for this, and to appoint a procurement Committee by the Cabinet for the construction of the building.

The construction of the proposed building will be for four years commencing the current year and therefore there will be no severe financial impact during any one year. It is expected to complement the building project by 2012.

National Transport Policy

Cabinet granted approval to a memorandum submitted by the Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma to adopt the policy document as the National Policy on Transport of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

The objective of this National Policy is to set out explicitly, the intervention of Government in ensuring that existing and potential mobility needs within the country for passengers and goods transport are satisfied with safety, cost effective, and with latest impact on the environment and resources.

This National Policy on Domestic Transport is based on 19 principles and focuses on a number of specific sub-sectoral policy statements covering the functional and mode wise identification of the entire transport activity.

Construction of Torrington Synthetic Track and development of playground

Cabinet granted approval to a memorandum submitted by Sport and Public Recreations Minister Gamini Lokuge to get the service of the State Engineering Corporation in respect of planning consultancy, project management and construction service involved in the construction of Torrington Synthetic Track and the development of the playground subject to the payment of Rs. 278,913,624.00 with VAT instead of Rs.220 million as agreed earlier.