Cabinet Decisions

Feasibility study on Northern Expressway to be launched

The Cabinet granted approval to a proposal by the President, in his capacity as Ports and Highways Minister to carry out feasibility studies, environmental impact assessment and preparation of documents to invite expression of interest and requests for proposals for phase 1 of the proposed Northern Expressway.

The contract for the consultancy services to carry out feasibility studies for phase 1 of this project is to be awarded to SMEC International Pty Ltd, Australia, through direct contracting method. This is one of the six expressways identified for implementation in the National Road Master Plan 2007-2017. The tentative corridor for phase 1 of the expressway has been identified and is proposed to be implemented in three stages:

Stage I - total length of Stage I is 42.5 kms and interchanges are proposed to be constructed at Enderamulla, Gampaha, Veyangoda and Mirigama; Stage II - total length of Stage II is 35 kms and interchanges are proposed to be constructed at Pothupitiya, Dampalassa and Pellandeniya and Stage III - total length of Stage III is 44 kms and interchanges are proposed to be constructed at Pothupitiya, Polgahawela, Rambukkana and Hedeniya.

Visa fees for foreign scholarship students waived

Cabinet approval was granted to implement the 100 scholarships scheme by the Higher Education Ministry for foreign students in 48 identified countries from 2012. On a proposal by Higher Education Minister S B Dissanayake, Cabinet granted approval to waive the visa fees for scholarship recipients from SAARC countries and to charge only 50 percent of the visa fees for scholarship recipients of other countries

Formal DPL ties to be established with Republic of Congo (Brazzaville)

The proposal by External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peiris for the establishment of diplomatic relations with the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) was approved by the Cabinet.

The joint communiqué on the establishment of formal diplomatic relations with the Republic of Congo was signed on February 1.

National Coordinating Committee on re-admission of repatriates to be established

Sri Lanka has entered into several bilateral arrangements with a number of countries to regulate the repatriation of asylum seekers and persons of Sri Lankan nationality residing in those countries without authorisation. The agreement on re-admission of persons residing without authorisation signed with the European community is one such agreement.

The International Organization for Migration (I0M) is supporting the Sri Lankan government for the effective implementation of the Re-admission Agreement under the EU Funded Project 'Support to the governments of Pakistan and Sri Lanka for the implementation of Re-admission Agreements with the European Community'. The proposal by External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peiris for the formal establishment of the National Coordinating Committee on Re-admission (NCCR), to guide and negotiate future Re-admission Agreements with other countries and to attend to matters connected thereto was approved by Cabinet.

MoU with Republic of Korea to send workers under Employment Permit System

The proposal by Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Dilan Perera to enter into an MoU with the Republic of Korea to send workers under the Employment Permit System with the Republic of Korea, to enhance the relations between the two countries through cooperation in the fields of employment and labour affairs and human capacity building, was approved by the Cabinet.

Rs 2,363 m for Maha Oya - Aralaganwila Road development

The proposal by the President as Ports and Highways Minister to carry out improvements and rehabilitation of Maha Oya - Aralaganwila road, 24kms in length, was approved by the Cabinet. This will be in addition to the list of 692.09 kms of roads approved by the Cabinet for rehabilitation under the programme of rehabilitation of national highways with concrete surfacing through domestic contractors.

The contract of the development of Maha Oya - Aralaganwila Road will be awarded to Sierra Construction (Pvt ) Ltd at the negotiated contract price of Rs 2,363,892,396.05 with loan facilities from Bank of Ceylon, was approved by the Cabinet.

Three bridges to be constructed on Moragahakanda - Wellawela road

The proposal by Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva to award the contract for design and construction of one bridge and construction of two bridges on the Wellawela Road under Kaluganga Left Bank Development to the State Development and Construction Corporation was approved by Cabinet. Rs 99.5 m allocated for the Kaluganga Development Project, will be utililsed for this project