Cabinet Decisions

Around 142,230 families resettled in Northern Province

Presidential Task Force for Resettlement, Development and Security - Northern Province - Report of the Presidential Task Force - 2009 -2012 - 'From Conflict to Stability' - contents in the above report submitted to Cabinet by Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa were noted.

Cabinet observed that an action programme has been formulated through a consultative process enlisting the cooperation from line ministries, Provincial Councils, the Armed Forces, UN agencies and INGOs.

Many Police Stations have now been re-opened and civil security is looked after by the Police.

Elections to local authorities in the Northern Province were held in July 2011 and 378 members to 32 Pradeshiya Sabhas in all five districts of the Northern Province were elected. Provincial Council elections to the Eastern Province were also held. Already 142,230 families have been resettled in all districts of the Northern Province.

Some of the projects undertaken in the Northern Province are as follows: Restoration of health services - major hospitals in all the districts have been renovated. At present, 161 preventive care institutions and 102 curative care institutions are functioning. Total expenditure for healthcare services from 2009 to 2011 amounts to Rs 2,135 million and an investment of Rs 9,254 million has been allocated for ongoing and future projects.

Revival of the education sector - out of the 1,020 schools in the 12 educational zones in the Northern Province, 990 schools have been renovated and are functioning.

Housing - for successful implementation of resettlement programme 78,144 permanent houses are scheduled to be constructed, out of which 27,983 houses have already been completed.

Rehabilitation of roads and railway - all major highways are being rehabilitated with a total investment of Rs 75,071 million. In addition, rehabilitation of the Northern Railway Network is underway with US $ 650 million assistance from the Indian government.

Water supply and sanitation - this work has been given high priority. Rs 29.9 billion has been invested to improve water supply and sanitation in this province. A major water supply and sanitation project to relieve the water problems in Jaffna is underway at a cost of Rs 25 billion.

Restoration of electricity - rehabilitation of the electricity network is underway, covering Vavuniya, Kilinochchi, Chunnakam etc. Revival of agriculture - 90 percent of the 180,000 acres of abandoned paddy lands have been brought under cultivation. Seed paddy and subsidised fertilizer have been provided. A production of 212,722 MT of paddy was recorded during this period.

Rehabilitation of irrigation network - a total commitment of Rs 6,333.9 million has been made by the government to rehabilitate the entire irrigation network in the Province.

Fisheries sector - the total fishing fleet has now been increased to 11,225 and the fish production in the Northern Province has risen from 15,250 MT in 2007 up to 48,520 MT in 2011.

Banking sector - 20 state and private banks are operating in the Northern region. Loans amounting to about Rs 614 million have been granted to 36,000 beneficiaries under different credit lines by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka up to the end of2011.

Private sector investment - private sector has already begun to move to the regions in the Northern Province. There are 23 projects approved by the BOI for a total investment of Rs 68,268 million. In addition, nine hotel projects consisting 328 rooms have been approved for construction at an investment of Rs 2,217 million.

Drafting of Operating Regulations under Civil Aviation Act

It has been observed that drafting of new regulations require extensive expertise in the subject areas and as such, the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka has requested assistance from the International Civil Aviation Organizations (lCAO) and the Technical Cooperation Bureau (TCB) for the purpose. Civil Aviation Minister Piyankara Jayaratne's proposal to proceed with the project, was approved by the Cabinet.

Urban Development activities in Colombo and adjoining areas

The housing development programme for underserved settlements - awarding of construction of 792 housing units contract to Sri Lanka Land Reclamation & Development Corporation (SLLR&DC). The proposal made by the President in his capacity as Defence and Urban Development Minister to award the construction of 792 housing units at Salamulla in Kolonnawa, to the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation & Development Corporation (SLLR&DC), was approved by the Cabinet.

Urban development activities in Colombo and adjoining areas. Housing development programme for underserved settlements - The awarding of contact to construct 1,777 housing units. The proposal made by the President, to award the contract for the construction of 1,777 housing units at Orugodawatte, in a block of land identified by the Urban Development Authority, as recommended by the Cabinet Appointed Negotiating Committee (CANC) was approved by the Cabinet.

Construction of a building block - C for the Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce, University of Jaffna

The proposal by Higher Education Minister S B Dissanayake to award the contract for the above construction, for a total cost of Rs 67,286,354.29 as recommended by the Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee (SCAPC), was approved by the Cabinet.

Procurement of vehicles for Sri Lanka Missions abroad

External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peiris' proposal to purchase new vehicles for the Sri Lanka missions abroad to replace the old vehicles belonging to the missions, Cabinet of Ministers decided to grant approval to make such purchases in three stages from 2013 to 2014.