Cabinet Decisions

Exposition of Sacred Kapilawasthu Relics

The Indian Prime Minister, on President Mahinda Rajapaksa's request, agreed to send the Most Sacred Kapilawasthu Relics to Sri Lanka to provide an opportunity for Sri Lankan Buddhist devotees to pay homage during the period of commemoration of the Sarnbuddhathwa Jayanthi 2600.

The Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs Ministry together with the Presidential Secretariat, the External Affairs Ministry and the Indian High Commission have made arrangements for the exposition of the Sacred Relics from August 20 to September 5.

On the recommendation of Buddha Sasana Acting Minister M K A D S Gunawardena, the Cabinet decided to have the exposition at the following venues: Manelwattha Viharaya, Kelaniya - August 20-22, Sri Sumangala Pirivena, Wariyapola - August 23-24, Sri Sambuddhathwa Jayanthi Viharaya, Anuradhapura - August 25-26, Agrabodhi Viharaya, Kantale - August 27-28, Sambuddhathwa Jayanthi Viharaya, Gampola - August 29-30, Rajamaha Viharaya, Pelmadulla - August 31 to September 1 and Kotikagoda Rajamaha Viharaya, Matara - September 2 - 4.

The exposition of relics were held in April 1978 for two months.

Welisara Chest Hospital to be upgraded

The Welisara Chest Hospital, the only chest hospital in Sri Lanka, caters to patients throughout the country.

A proposal by Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena to upgrade the Chest Hospital, Welisara, was approved by Cabinet.

The hospital is under the administration of the Director of National Programme for Tuberculosis Control and Chest Diseases, Narahenpita. This will be upgraded as a national institute under a separate director.

MoU in labour and training with Sultanate of Oman

The Cabinet of Ministers decided to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Oman government in the field of labour and training on a proposal by Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Dilan Perera.

About 25,000 Sri Lankans are employed in the Sultanate of Oman of which 55 percent are females.

Six storeyed multipurpose building complex for Colombo University

Higher Education Minister S B Dissanayake's proposal to construct a six storey examination and multipurpose building complex for the University of Colombo in two stages, was approved by Cabinet.

It will be carried out in stages: Stage I - Construction of the first two floors at a total cost of Rs 150 million, utilising funds generated by the University and to complete the construction work within one year, Stage II - Construction of the remaining floors, at a total cost of Rs 245 million, with funds obtained as a loan from the People's Bank and to complete the construction work within two years.

MoU with Hungary on consultations and co-operation

The proposal by External Affairs Acting Minister Neomal Perera to sign an MoU between the Hungarian Foreign Ministry and Sri Lankan External Affairs Ministry was approved by Cabinet.

The objective of the proposed Memorandum of Understanding is to further strengthen the close relations between Sri Lanka and Hungary, by reviewing at an annual meeting, the political, economic, trade, financial, agricultural, consular, cultural, technological and scientific co-operation and issues of mutual interests in the regional and international Arena.