Cabinet Decisions

Committee appointed to pay compensation for lands acquired under the second phase of Hambantota Port Project

* On a proposal made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his capacity as the Minister of Ports and Highways, Cabinet has approved to appoint a Committee of Officials to identify the occupants who are entitled for compensation in respect of the lands which are to be acquired for the second phase of the Hambantota Port Development Project.

* This committee headed by Additional Secretary Ministry of Ports and Highways A M Jayawickrema will include nine members representing relevant stakeholder agencies including the District Secretary, Hambantota.

* Lands required for all second phase of the Hambantota Port Development Project and the basic survey work pertaining to these lands have been finalized.

Rs 1,400 million for water supply facilities to several areas in the Kundasale electorate

* On a proposal made by the Minister of Water Supply and Drainage Dinesh Gunawardena, Cabinet has approved to implement a project to provide water to Wavinna and Panwilla areas in the Kandy District and to increase the total cost estimate of the Kundasale Integrated Water Supply Scheme from Rs 1,250 million to Rs 1,400 million.

* Supply and laying of transmission main to Madolkele Reservoir.

* Laying new distribution system in Panvila, Madolkele, Hatale, Kosgama and Wavinna areas.

* System improvement in Kundasale, Balagolla water treatment plant is proposed to match the water deficit arising due to abstraction of water from Arattana water treatment plant to cater proposed areas.

* Improvement in Arattana water treatment plant including supply and installation of pumps.

* The proposed water supply scheme will provide safe drinking water to more than 20,000 people living in these areas.

MoU with Vietnam for bilateral co-operation on public finance management

* On a proposal made by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance and Planning, Cabinet has approved to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Republic of Vietnam to promote and strengthen the co-operation in the areas of public finance management.

* It is proposed to sign this MoU during the state visit of President of the Republic of Vietnam to Sri Lanka from October 13 to 15, 2011.

PMB purchases paddy above its targets of 75,000 metric tons

* During the 2011 Yala season the Paddy Marketing Board has so far purchased 75,172 mt of paddy from the paddy cultivated areas.

The Minister of Co-operative and Internal Trade, Johnston Fernando informed the Cabinet of the progress made in paddy purchasing at a cost of Rs 2.14 billion.

* In addition, 13,564 mt of paddy has been purchased by District Secretaries using revolving funds of Rs 389 million.