Cabinet decisions

Importation of raw cashew on temporary basis

The Cabinet has approved a memorandum submitted by Supplementary Plantation Crops Development Minister R.M. Dharmadasa Banda to import 4,000 metric tons of raw cashew from South and West African countries, India and Indonesia.

The importing of raw cashew will be in force until June 30, 2010.

Accordingly, approval was granted to issue import licences to selected associations and people's companies recommended by the Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation under the supervision of the Supplementary Plantation Crops Development Ministry and distribute such imported raw cashew consignments among the members of relevant societies and companies adhering to all mandatory regulations and quarantine requirements of Import and Export Control Department, Sri Lanka Customs and Agriculture Department.

Implementation balance work of 4-lane expressway from Pinnaduwa to Godagama

The Cabinet has approved a memorandum submitted by President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Highways and Road Development Minister to award the balance work of the construction of Four Lane Expressway from Pinnaduwa to Godagama to Messrs. China National Technical Import and Export Corporation (CNTIC) of China.

New building at Kelaniya University

The Cabinet has approved a memorandum submitted by Higher Education Minister Wishwa Warnapala to improve infrastructure facilities at the University of Kelaniya.

Accordingly, the approval grants a four storeyed pre-cast building with a floor area of 600 Sqm for the Faculty of Humanities.

The total cost estimated for this project is Rs. 36 million on self finance basis.

The construction work of the building will be awarded to the State Engineering Corporation on Design and Build basis.

Releasing of teachers from Provincial Public Service to the Central Government

The Cabinet has approved a memorandum submitted by the Education Minister Susil Premajayanth to release teachers recruited after December 31, 1989 from the Provincial Public Service to the Central Government.

This decision is based on the premise that recruitment to the Provincial Public Service are done without adhering to standards applicable to National level recruitment and the inference that provisions are not available.

French funding for the Spatial Information Infrastructure for Reconstruction Monitoring (SIIRM) Project - Phase II

The Cabinet has approved a memorandum submitted by Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardena to implement phase II of the SIIRM project for peace consolidation and redevelopment of Northern Sri Lanka with the French Government Funding and to attend the follow-up procedures.

The Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Ministry is implementing the Phase I of the Spatial Information Infrastructure for Reconstruction Monitoring (SIIRM) project with French Government Tsunami Assistant Fund to develop spatial information at 1:10,000 and 1:5000 scale and GIS application in Tsunami affected Southern and Eastern Provinces covering its six districts along with know how transfer and capacity building of Urban Development Authority (UDA) and Survey Department (SD). Phase I of the SIIRM project is concluded.

Amending the Export Agriculture Development Act. No.46 of 1992

The Cabinet has approved a memorandum submitted by Agriculture Development and Agrarian Services Minister Maithripala Sirisena to incorporate the following amendments in the Draft of the New Act.

1. As the functions and objective performed by the Department are not included in the existing Act, to include the same in the amended Act.

2. GMP is the most essential factor required in approaching the foreign market. As the provisions of the existing Act not sufficient for same, to include necessary Amendments to achieve the desired objectives.

3. The Dept. of Export Agriculture is successfully adopting the methodology of providing the relevant service to the farmer-community through Community- Based Organizations which is considered as a successful approach in the context of present development process and to include sufficient Amendments for same.

4. No accepted norms had been included in the present Act regarding policies of quarantine relating to plants, seed and planting materials and hence necessary to include Provisions to maintain due standards and accepted norms.

5. Only very simple and minor punishments have been included in the present Act against violation of its provisions.

6. Whereas the blocking out of export crop cultivated lands into small allotments has acquired a dimension of a national problem, no provisions are available to prevent same.

7. Although Act mainly concentrates on the promotion of crop cultivation, the necessity of the inclusion of provisions for entering the field of crop processing and marketing etc. has been strongly felt.

8. As interpretation of the term "Export Agro-Crops" referred to in the present Act tends to meet problems in identifying new crops, and to replace same as "Export Agriculture- Crops".

Asian Food and Agriculture Cooperation Initiative

The Cabinet has approved a memorandum submitted by Agriculture Development and Agrarian Services Minister Maithripala Sirisena to establish the Asian Food and Agriculture Cooperation Initiative (AFACI) with the collaboration of Rural Development Administration of the Republic of Korea.

Clinical Centres for Family Healthcare Services in Badulla

The Cabinet has approved a memorandum submitted by Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva for the setting up of 13 Clinical Centres for Family Healthcare Services in Badulla.