Cabinet DECISIONS

* Agricultural seeds

A total of 15,000 MT of seeds such as potatoes, maize, onions and beans are imported annually for cultivation costing over Rs 1,000 million as foreign exchange.

Cabinet approval was granted for the production of seed varieties in Sri Lanka with both State and the private sector participation on a proposal by Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana. Facilities at 19 State owned farms will be obtained for the use of this program.

* Hostel for male students

Cabinet approval was granted to construct a hostel for 400 male students of the Visual Performing Arts University at Dehiwela at a cost of Rs 97.95 million, on a proposal made by the Higher Education Minister S B Dissanayake.

* Sports Law to be amended

Cabinet approval was granted to sign an anti-doping agreement with UNESCO to eliminate doping in sports and to amend the Sports Law No. 25 of 1973 and other legislation on a proposal by Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage.

* Food production program

Cabinet having observed the recent price escalation of commodities in the open market affecting the cost of living of the public, decided, on a proposal made by Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena, to enhance local production of food items with the participation of regional public officers and institutions and the public, with the political leadership taking the lead role.

Under this new proposal, cultivation of the one million homestead gardens under the Api Wawamu - Rata Nagamu Program will be accelerated.

Four million schoolchildren will be provided seeds and plants based on the needs to develop their home gardens. It was also decided to strengthen the national program by providing seeds and planting material to the needy, free of charge; and to utilize cultivated lands destroyed by the recent floods for cultivation of short-term crops.