CABINET DECISIONS
Academic Facilities at Kotalawela Defence University opened to
public
On a proposal made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa Cabinet of
Ministers met last Friday decided to obtain a loan of Rs 750 million
from the Bank of Ceylon to expand the post graduate facilities of the
Sir John Kotalawela Defence University (JKDU).
This was initially established as an academy in 1981 and later
elevated to University status and now it has the full membership of the
Association of Commonwealth Universities of the UK. The Institute of
Postgraduate Studies (IPGS) of this university initially conducted M.Sc
and B.Sc degree programmes and many other Diploma and certificate
courses for serving officers of the Armed forces and the Police and the
non-commissioned officers of the forces to obtain higher educational
qualifications.
Since the end of the three decade long armed conflict, in order to
meet the rising demand for new courses, programmes, such as, Doctor of
Philosophy, Master of Philosophy, MBA in E - Governance, MBA in Logistic
Management, Master of Laws, B.Sc in Management and several other Diploma
courses are being introduced from 2012.
These programmes will be opened to the public and the private sector
with reasonable fees which will be beneficial to all Sri Lankans as a
nation. The government has acquired a block of land adjoining the KDU
and the credit facility from the Bank of Ceylon will be utilized to
construct a new six- storied building complex for the IPGS.
Upasampada ceremony of Ramanna Nikaya at Getambe in July
The Ministry of Buddhasasana has made the arrangements to conduct the
68th Upasampada ceremony of the Sri Lanka Ramanna Nikaya on a grand
scale from July 23, to August 1, 2012 at the Rajopavanarama Temple at
Gatembe in Kandy
On the recommendation of the Acting Minister of Buddhasasana M.K.D.S.
Gunawardane, Cabinet approval was granted to complete the remaining
construction work of the new Sangawasa building and the upper floor of
the Dr. Labuduwe Siridamma Thera Commemoration Hall of the
Rajopavanarama Temple, Gatembe.
Japanese assistance for Non-Communicable Disease management via
improved health facilities
The Cabinet on a proposal made by Health Minister Maithripala
Sirisena decided to make use of the Japanese funded project of 3,935
million Yen to enhance the non- communicable disease management through
improvement of facilities in secondary level hospitals and drug
security.
The Health Ministry which has adopted a slogan “Healthy Life for All
“ is now in the process of implementing its strategy of creation of
awareness on early detection of non-communicable diseases. The
preparatory study of this five year project revealed that many secondary
hospitals in the country are generally underutilized due to lack of
appropriate facilities.
This project will have the following three components Improvement of
secondary - level health facilities of Teldeniya,
Galgamuwa,Kaluwanchikkudi and Warakapola hospitals with the provisions
of medical equipment.
Provision of 124 -Nos ambulances to seven emerging regions excluding
South and Western Province.
Procurement of equipment for production of generic drugs by the State
Pharmaceutical manufacturing corporation.
Loan agreement for this has already been signed with JICA and with
the local component of a sum equivalent to 825 million yen the cost of
the entire project will 4,760 million yen.
Water Board owned new company to provide bottled water
A proposal made by Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh
Gunawardena to establish a subsidiary company, fully owned by the
National Water Supply and Drainage Board to carry the production and
distribution of bottled and containerized safe water was approved by the
cabinet.
It has been observed that non availability of safe drinking water in
certain areas in the country such as North Central province has resulted
in the spread of chronic kidney disease.
A pilot project initiated to provide potable water for drinking and
cooking purposes in the form of bulk bottled form has been success.
Multi purpose HD cinema and TV studio for Ranmihitenna Tele Cinema
Park
The Mahinda Rajapaksa National Tele Cinema Park (MRNTCP) at
Ranmihitenna which is a for film makers of both local and foreign is to
be equipped with Hi-Tec multipurpose studio within the park premises
itself.
At present this park under the purview of ministry of Mass Media and
Information has been producing several tele-dramas, commercials, and a
few films including “Amden Men” a German film and Kusa Paba during the
last two years.
Cabinet approval has been granted for the Mass media ministry to
retain the services of Japanese Hitachi Kokusai Electric Company for
consultancy, lay outs acoustic, lighting and A/C designs.
All drawings of the studio, sound and acoustic diagram, A/C diagrams,
lighting diagrams will be obtained from the Japanese Hitachi Kokusai
Electric Company at a cost of Rs 17.5 million while the construction of
the proposed studio will be locally handled through open competitive
procurement procedures.
France assistance for 46 bridges on National highways
On a proposal made by the President as Minister of Ports and Highways
the Cabinet gave its approval to award the contract to a Consortium from
France for the construction of 46 bridges under the financial assistance
from the government of France. These bridges will be constructed in
rural and less trafficked national highways in the country.
The government has signed a financial protocol with the government of
France to obtain a loan of Euro 22 million for the purpose the proceed
will cover the design manufacture and supply of, as well as technical
support for unibridge components and ancillary and services for the
construction of the said 46 bridges.
This loan is granted for a period of 20 years including a grace
period of five years with the interest rate of 0.73 percent.
Epilepsy unit at NHSL with funds from Saudi Arabia
An Epilepsy unit consisting of an eight storied building is to be set
up at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka under the Saudi Fund as there
are no optimal facilities for epilepsy patients in hospitals in the
country.
The recommendation by Minister of Health Maithripala Sirisena to
award the contract of piling work of this proposed eight storied
building to M/s Sierra Construction (pvt) Ltd at a cost of Rs 91 million
was approved by the Cabinet. |