Cabinet Decisions

SACEP Secretariat to be setup at Battaramulla

The Cabinet approved the allocation of a block of land by the Urban Development Authority in Battaramulla for the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP) Secretariat and the Director General's residence on a proposal by Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa.

Rs 50 million will be allocated for this.

SACEP is an inter governmental organisation established in 1982 under an Articles of Association by the governments of South Asia, to promote and support protection, management and enhancement of the environment in the region.

Its membership comprises governments of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka to obtain membership of International Sugar Organisation

A proposal by Minor Export Crop Promotion Minister Reginold Cooray to obtain membership of the International Sugar Organisation was approved by Cabinet.

This is an inter-Government Organisation based in London established by the International Sugar Agreement of 1968. Its membership consists of the European Union and 59 other countries.

Some of its objectives are to ensure enhanced international co-operation in connection with world sugar matters and related issues and provide a forum for inter-governmental consultations on this subject.

Tourist Information Centre under Divineguma at Unavatuna

The proposal by State Resources and Enterprise Development Minister Dayasritha Tissera to vest the Unawatuna Branch of Lanka Salusala with the Sri Lanka Handicrafts Board, to develop it as a Tourist Information Centre and a sales outlet under the Divinaguma programme for the benefit of local as well as foreign tourists was approved by Cabinet.

Emergency Service Centre for Batticaloa Teaching Hospital

A proposal by Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena to develop emergency and accident service facilities at the Batticaloa Teaching hospital at Rs 760 million was approved by the Cabinet.

The Foundation Supporting a National Trauma Service in Sri Lanka, in the state of Victoria, Australia, will provide US$ two million in cash and kind for this project.

Permanent building for Ampara Hardy

The proposal by Telecommunication and Information Technology Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya to award the construction of the permanent building at Hardy Advanced Technological Institute, Ampara for the Deyata Kirula National Exhibition 2013 to the State Engineering Corporation and the State Development and Construction Corporation, was approved by Cabinet.

Deyata Kirula 2013 exhibition is to be inaugurated on February 5, 2013 at the premises of Ampara Hardy Advanced Technological Institute. This covers 120 acres.

In 2012, temporary huts were put up at Oyamaduwa Deyata Kirula - 2012 and they were not utilised thereafter. Based on experience, the Deyata Kirula Operation Committee decided to establish permanent buildings for 2013 Deyata Kirula.

GOH Hotel to be developed as Five Star Hotel

The Grand Oriental Hotel (GOH) building at Colombo Fort owned and operated by the Bank of Ceylon (BOC), adjoining lands owned by the Police Department and a waterfront is to be developed while maintaining its heritage on a proposal by President Mahinda Rajapaksa as Defence and Urban Development Minister.

Bank of Ceylon prepared a comprehensive redevelopment project proposal covering the area. The project is to be implemented in three stages and the total investment would be around US $ 1 billion.

Once the project is completed under a PPP programme, GOH will be converted in to a Five Star Diamond Hotel and the entire project on completion will add 500 rooms to the tourism sector.

Sri Lanka to seek observer status

External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peris' proposal to seek observer status in the conference on Interaction and Confidence building measures in Asia (CICA) was approved by the Cabinet.

The objective of the conference is to enhance cooperation towards promoting peace, security and stability in Asia.

The organisation has 24 member countries of Central Asia, Middle East, East Asia and South Asia. India and Pakistan are also among the member states.

International organisations such as the UN, League of Arab States and several other countries including USA, Malaysia, Japan and Indonesia have obtained observer status.

Sri Lanka's intention to join CICA will be announced during the President's visit to the Republic of Kazakhastan on November 20. Meanwhile, an agreement with the Republic of Kazakhstan on cooperation in the field of tourism is to be signed. Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa's proposal to sign and ratify this agreement on co- operation in the field of tourism between the two countries, was approved by the Cabinet.

The proposal agreement will enhance bilateral relationship between the two countries and strengthen the tourism flow in to Sri Lanka and open new avenues for trade and investments.

Sri Lanka established diplomatic relations with Kazakhastan on June 29, 1992

Govt grants US$ 1.5 m to Uganda

A proposal was made by the President, in his capacity as the Finance and Planning Minister to provide grant assistance in US $ 1.5 million to the Uganda government to establish the Sri Lanka-Uganda friendship Vocational and Technical Training Centre in Uganda.

The grant assistant will be utilised to upgrade and strengthen the Masulita Vocational and Technical Trading Centre in Uganda. The construction work is to be entrusted to a Sri Lankan contractor engaged in construction work in Uganda and Sri Lanka.

Skilled labour will be used for construction work. The Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister will execute the project on behalf of the Sri Lanka government.

Passenger vehicles to be marked with different colours

A proposal by Transport Minister Kumar Welgama to paint vehicles used for passenger transport in different colours was approved by the Cabinet. Vehicles will be painted in different colours as follows: Private passenger transport buses - light blue- PANTONE colour code no 2707 C, public passenger transport buses of SLTB- red - PANTONE colour code No 185 C, vehicle used as school vans and school buses - yellow PANTONE colour code No 1375 C

There are about 20,000 buses deployed for passenger transport by both state and private sector among the 4.5 million registered vehicles in Sri Lanka being used for different transport purposes.