Cabinet DECISIONS

Development, operation and maintenance of rest of areas in Southern Expressway to be entrusted to Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation

This toll expressway from Kottawa to Godagama (Matara) is 126 km and the road from Kottawa to Pinnaduwa is expected to commence operation in July 2011.

Rest areas along this route are to be constructed on both sides of the expressway, 44 Km from Kottawa, near Welipenna interchange, on state land.

Restaurants and shops will be constructed in the rest areas and other utilities such as water, telephone, toilet facilities, parking areas etc will also be provided.

The proposal made by the President to handover the development, operation and maintenance of rest areas to the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation was approved by the Cabinet.

Purchase of a tabletting machine and fluid bed processor to increase State Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Corporation capacity

This is the only state owned institution that manufactures essential drugs. This was gifted by the Japanese government in 1987 with machinery made in Japan and European countries.

The proposal by Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena to purchase the machines to increase the manufacturing capacity of the institution was approved by the Cabinet.

Atomic Energy Authority Act No 19 of 1969 to be repealed and replaced with provision to establish an Atomic Energy Regulatory Council

The current Atomic Energy Authority Act enacted in 1969 needs to be amended to introduce nuclear power generation technology in Sri Lanka and to address the security concerns of radioactive sources and to deal with radiation emergencies.

Since Sri Lanka is close to the nuclear power stations in South India, it has been found necessary to establish an independent regulatory arm in keeping with the advice given by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The proposal made by Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a Bill to establish an Atomic Energy Regulatory Council was approved by the Cabinet.

Construction of new buildings for Divisional Secretariats at Labugala, Padiyathalawa and Ninthavur

The proposal made by Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister W D J Seneviratne to construct new buildings for the above divisional secretariats to provide better facilities to the people living in these areas was approved by the Cabinet.

Rs 110 million is to be allocated for this.

Euro 35 million from France for Jaffna and Kilinochchi water supply and sanitation project

The objective of this project is to improve the water supply in the Jaffna and Kilinochchi districts and to provide sanitation infrastructure to residents in the Jaffna Municipal Council.

France has agreed to provide Euro 35 million (US $ 48 million) to co- finance the project, Asian Development Bank has agreed to provide US $ 90 million and the Sri Lankan government's contribution will be US $ 26.04 million, The total cost of the project is US $ 164.04 million.

In addition, the International Fund for Agricultural Development is to provide US $ 20 million for the downstream development of the Iranamadu Tank.The proposal by the President to enter into a loan agreement for the purpose with the investor was approved by the Cabinet.

Japanese human resources development scholarship programme

The Japanese government has agreed to provide of Japanese Yen 208 million (approximately Rs 287 million) implement of the human resources development scholarship programme in 2011.

The programme's objective is to provide opportunities for government officials to undergo Masters Degree Programmes at higher educational Institutions in Japan.

This will provide 15 scholarships to Sri Lanka from 2011 to 2014. The proposal made by the President to enter into a grant agreement was approved by the Cabinet.

Rs 10 billion ADB assistance for national highway sector project

ADB is to provide US $ 85 million to rehabilitate of 62 km of national highway road sections. Government contribution is US $ 20.60 million for the following link roads to the southern expressways. Matara-Akuressa Road 3.4km, Hikkaduwa-Baddegama Road 14.34km, Horana-Anguluwatota- Aluthgama Road 3.38km, Katukurunda-Neboda Road 2.72km, Kirulapona- Godagama Road 5.33km and Colombo- Horana Road 12.70km.