Cabinet DECISIONS

Steering Committee

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Trinidad and Tobago in November 2009 unanimously agreed to hold its 2013 meeting in Colombo. After that, Sri Lanka will serve as CHOGM Chair for the next two years.

CHOGM will be the largest international event to be hosted by Sri Lanka since 1976 as 54 Heads of States or Governments will participate at this summit.

On a proposal by External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peiris Cabinet approval was granted to appoint a National Steering Committee at Ministerial level headed by the Prime Minister to co-ordinate all activities relating to hosting this summit.

A National Task Force at Secretaries level headed by Secretary/ President will also be set up to implement the decisions taken by the Steering Committee.

Wildlife parks entrance fee income to be shared with PCs

Cabinet on a proposal by Minister A L M Athaullah approved to grant totally the income collected from the wildlife parks entrance fees such as Wilpattua and Yala which have been recently re-opened to be equally shared between the Provincial Councils and Agrarian Services and Wildlife Ministry.

During the first two years these revenues will be utilized to improve the infrastructure facilities of the wildlife parks and thereafter 50 percent of the revenue will be provided to respective Provincial Councils.

Inter - Ministerial Committee

The Cabinet has decided that all Ministries, Institutions and Government and Non-Governmental organizations that contribute to develop houses throughout the island should work in an integrated manner under a common policy.

Cabinet approval was granted to appoint an Inter - Ministerial Committee with relevant senior ministers of the Cabinet as permanent members and with the participation of representatives of relevant ministries to carry out an integrated implementation of National housing program under Janasevana National Program, on a proposal by Minister Wimal Weerawansa.

Non-State Higher Education Council

On a proposal by Higher Education Minister S B Dissanayake, Cabinet approval was granted to prepare a legal framework to provide for quality assurance and accreditation of institutions providing higher education, registration and regulation of Non- State Higher Educational Institutions.

A Bill to establish the "Sri Lanka Qualifications Framework, Accreditation and Quality Assurance Board and to establish a council for Non-State Higher Education will be presented in Parliament during this year.

The Council established under the proposed new Act will assure the delivery of quality higher education programs offered by all higher educational institutions.

Asian Regional Ministerial Meeting

On a proposal by Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr Rajitha Senarathna the Asian Regional ministerial meeting on Aquaculture for food Security, Nutrition and Economic Development will be hosted by Sri Lanka on July 28 and 29 Colombo.

This will be jointly organized by the FAO, the Network of Aquatic Centres in the Asia and the Pacific Region and the Fisheries Ministry.

New law to regulate finance business

The Cabinet last year decided to bring a new law to amend the Finance Act No 78 of 1988 to provide a strong governance framework to regulate finance business.

The main purpose of this new Bill is to update the law on par with advancement of new technology and to combat unauthorized deposits and to ensure the stability in the financial sector in the country.

The acceptance of deposits without the Central Bank approval is made an offence and a definition of 'deposit' has been introduced with enhanced examination and investigative powers of the accounts and of Financial institutions.

On a proposal by President as Finance Minister Cabinet approval was granted for the new Bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman to be presented in Parliament.

Disaster hit schools get Rs 1,029 m for rehabilitation

The Cabinet on a proposal by Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena decided to allocate Rs 1,029 million to rehabilitate schools in Central, Uva, North Central, Eastern and Southern provinces affected by the recent rain, flood and earthslip.

The Cabinet also decided that rehabilitation work should be carried out immediately. Part of Rs 33 billion previously allocated to rehabilitate properties damaged by the recent disaster will be made available for this.

A total of 793 schools inclusive of 42 National Schools were affected. The most affected area is the Eastern province with 586 schools affected.