Cabinet Decisions

Infrastructure facilities

Cabinet on the recommendation of Higher Education Minister S B Dissanayake approved provision of basic infrastructure facilities for the Faculty of Medicine, Ragama. A two three - storied building for 100 female students estimated to cost Rs 170 million will be built.

On the recommendation of Minister Susil Premajayantha Cabinet approved to extend authorization of existing parties by another five years at the time of the expiry of their respective agreements, of all 14 parties including those that could expire after the end of 2010 and to conduct a second round of inviting requests for qualification by the Public Utilities Commission.

Cabinet approved Technical Evaluation and Negotiation Committees will also be appointed.

Sewerage project

Cabinet observed that a sewerage and sanitation project covering Dehiwala, Ratmalana, Moratuwa, Kolonnawa, Ja-Ela and Ekala areas is in operation. It was decided that a Project Report covering the areas not covered by the present scheme, which will cater to poor households, is to be implemented utilizing World Bank grant.

The projects objective is to increase the number of sewerage connection to poor households and ensure that their domestic waste water is effectively managed prior to disposal rather than being dumped in to the environment.

This project will support both new connections to network sewerage and improvements to the management of outside sanitation in the above areas and also in the Maharagama and Boralesgamuwa area. This project proposed by Minister Dinesh Gunawardena will cost Rs 751 million and the Foreign Component will be Rs 406 million.

Housing Assistance

Cabinet approval was granted to increase the amount granted to the Housing Assistance Program for Persons with Disabilities from the revenue of Supiri Vasana Sampatha Lottery from five percent to 8.25 percent on the recommendation of Social Services Minister Felix Perera.

Presently housing assistance under this program is given to persons with disabilities, subject to a maximum of Rs 100,000 for persons with disabilities to own a house.

The Ministry also expects to double this amount of assistance in the future. The Ministry has disbursed Rs 105.5 million from 2009 up to May 2010 among 1,062 persons.

AFS

Cabinet approval was granted to setting up the Academy of Financial Studies (AFS) as the Training Arm of the Finance and Planning Ministry. On a proposal by the President as Finance Minister the service provided by the Institute of Government Accounts of Finance and Institute of Public Finance and Development Authority will be absorbed by AFS.

The AFS will be focused at the personal customs officers once it is shifted to its new building.