Cabinet Decisions

Free Grant of UDA land at Ratnapura to the University of Sabaragamuwa

The proposal made by the President, in his capacity as the Defence, and Urban Development Minister to allocate a land at Ratnapura New Town near the General Hospital, in extent of about 20 ares, to the University Grants Commission to handover same to the University of Sabaragamuwa, Sri Lanka, to establish the Faculty of Health Sciences of the said University, was approved by the Cabinet.

Recognition by the Sri Lanka Medical Council of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University

The first batch of officer cadets of the Faculty of Medicine of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University will be conferred with the Degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) in 2014. The proposal made by Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena to make provisions under the Medical Ordinance for the purpose, to enable the Sri Lanka Medical Council to register them under the said Ordinance to practice Medicine and Surgery in Sri Lanka, was approved by the Cabinet.

Production of high quality heifers for dairy industry

The above project was prepared to be implemented from 2008 to 2015 at a cost of Rs.1,442.00 million and a sum of Rs.93.0 million was allocated for the purpose in 2008 and Rs.1,349.0 million for the rest of the 7 year period from 2009 to 2015; with Cabinet approval. The objective of this project is to produce high quality heifer calves which are born from the artificial breeding programme implemented by the Department of Animal Production and Health. The proposal made by Livestock and Rural Community Development Minister Arumugan Thondaman to provide incentives to dairy farmers in cash as stipulated, instead of supplying cattle feed for the rest of the project period from 2013 to 2015 utilizing Rs.300 million, was approved by the Cabinet.

Amendments to the Sri Lanka Inventors Incentives Act, No.53 of 1979

The proposal made by Technology, Research and Atomic Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare necessary amending legislation for the above Act in keeping with the present needs, was approved by the Cabinet.

Project to Formulate a Chemical Accident Prevention and Preparedness Programme for Sri Lanka

According to an industrial census conducted, there are nearly 1,000 large, medium and small scale chemical industries in the country. It has been found that preparedness measures have to be formulated to prevent or mitigate accidents caused by these chemical industries and activities. The Secretariat for the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) under United Nations Environmental Programme has offered to provide US $224,834.00 as a grant to Sri Lanka for such a programme to be implemented. The proposal made by Environment and Renewable Energy Minister Susil Premajayantha to proceed with the project, was approved by the Cabinet.

Report on the Local Manufactures of School Uniform Material

The quantity of clothing material required for distribution as school uniforms is 11.7 million meters. The short term recommendation made by Good Governance and Infrastructure Minister (Senior), and the Chairman of the Ministerial Committee appointed for the purpose Ratnasiri Wickramanayake to accord the opportunity to supply 80 percent of the school uniform material requirements for 2014 to local manufacturers and the balance 20 percent to be imported as finished fabric or imported in Grey to be finished locally by local Grey fabric processors, was approved by the Cabinet. Action is to be taken by the Authorities concerned to ensure that the total requirement of school uniform materials will be procured from local manufacturers from 2015.

Expansion of Vocational Training Centre at Thelambuyaya

There are five Vocational Training Centres in the country providing vocational training for the disabled and Thelambuyaya Training Centre in the Hambantota District is one such Institution which provides two year training courses in Agriculture, Tailoring, Bakery Products, Electronics and Carpentry. The proposal made by Social Services Minister Felix Perera to award the above contract, which includes the following, to the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB) at an estimated cost of Rs.174,820,800.00, subject to approval of rates in the estimate by the Technical Committee of the Ministry of Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities and completion of work within the stipulated time frame, was approved by the Cabinet:

* construction of a boys hostel for 100 trainees;

* construction of a girls hostel for 100 trainees; and construction of a kitchen and dining hall for 300 trainees.

Functions of of the Sub-committee on Media and Publicity of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2013

Following functions of the Sub-Committee on Media and Publicity of the task force, appointed to organize the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka in November 2013, devolve on the Mass Media and Information Ministry:

* launching of the official logo of the Conference and designing and maintaining the official website of the Conference;

* designing and maintaining the Official Media Centre of this Conference to facilitate 1200 local and foreign journalists; and raising public awareness while uplifting the image of Sri Lanka, nationally and internationally.

The proposal made by Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella to proceed with the programme, was approved by the Cabinet.

Establishment of a Youth Park in Matara

The proposal made by Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dullas Alahapperuma to construct a Youth Park in Eliyakanda, Matara at a cost of Rs. 80 million, utilizing the financial allocations provided t6 the National Youth Services Council for the year 2013, with the view to developing infrastructure facilities for Sri Lankan Youth to spend their leisure time productively in a more eco-friendly environment, was approved by the Cabinet.

Contribution of Sri Lanka towards the construction works of Sri Parvatharama (Buddhavanam) Buddhist Theme Park in Andra Pradesh, India

The prime objective of this enormous project which has been initiated by the Tourism, Media and Culture Ministry in Andra Pradesh is to establish a International Cultural Centre depicting historical events that took place in different countries and masterpieces of religious creations belonging to those countries. The proposal made by Culture and the Arts Minister T.B. Ekanayaka to proceed with the project at a cost of Rs.7.9 million, was approved by the Cabinet.

The Proposed Teaching Hospital of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University

The General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University has commenced a new Degree programme in Medicine for Military Medical Cadets who could fulfill the requirement of the military medical services of the country and functioning of the proposed Teaching Hospital of the above University, as early as possible, is essential for the training of Military Medical Cadets who are to commence their professorial - clinical appointments by August 2013. The hospital will also cater to foreign patients and also provide ultra modern facilities for medical check-ups for which Sri Lankan patients opt to go abroad spending large amount of foreign exchange. It will also cater to -advanced rehabilitation and physiotherapy for disabled soldiers. The proposal made by the President, in his capacity as the Defence and Urban Development Minister to proceed with the project at a cost of US $201.6 (approximately Rs.26 billion), with funds to be provided by a State Bank, was approved by the Cabinet.

Road Sector Assistance Project funded by the World Bank

The two proposals made by the President, in his capacity as the Ports and Highways Minister to proceed with the activities relating to the rehabilitation and improvements of the following road sections, were approved by the Cabinet. From Peliyagoda to Mahabage (from 0.6 km to 9.0 km) and from Mahabage to Ja-Ela (from 9.0 km to 18.31 km) on

* Peliyagoda - Puttalam Road (A3);

from Maliban Junction to Cross Junction (from 13.275 km to 18.480 km) on Colombo-Galle Road (A2) and from 0 to 0.080 km from Cross Junction to Panadura Bridge (AB011);

* from Panadura Bridge to Nalluruwa Junction (from 25.240 km. to 30.300 km) on Colombo-Galle Road (A2) and the road section (from 0.080 km to 6.780 km.) on the road from Cross Junction to Panadura Bridge (AB011) -

Rehabilitation and improvement of Hulandawa Left - Kahambana Road (UVMMC803) Uva Province - Provincial Roads Project funded by the World Bank

The World Bank has allocated US $105 million for the rehabilitation and upgrading of Provincial roads in Uva, Eastern and Northern Provinces and the proposal made by Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister A. L. M. Athaullah, to award the above contract as recommended by the Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee (CAPC), utilizing a part of the proceeds of the above loan for the rehabilitation and improvement of Hulandawa Left - Kahambana Road, was approved by the Cabinet.

Computer Science, University of Ruhuna (Phase II)

The proposal made by Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake to revise the total cost of the above project from Rs.263 million to Rs.291 ‘million, was approved by the Cabinet.

Construction of a New Two Storied Official Quarters

Construction of a New Two Storied Official Quarters for District Secretary, Hambanthota - Hambanthota District consists of 12 Divisional Secretary’s Divisions and 576 Grama Niladhari Divisions. The total population is 596,617. The Cabinet granted. approval to the proposal made by Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister W. D. J. Seneviratne to proceed with the above project, if part of the cost can be met from the budgetary provisions made available to the Ministry, failing which, the provisions have to be met in the Budget for 2014.

Construction of a New Two Storied Building for Divisional Secretariat, Udubaddawa

This Divisional Secretary’s Division consists of 43 Grama Niladhari Divisions and the total population is 13,859. The proposal made by Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister W.D.J. Seneviratne to proceed with the above project at a cost of Rs.23.37 million with funds to be provided under the Medium Term Expenditure Frame Work - 2014, to provide better facilities for the people living in the area, was approved by the Cabinet.

Agreement between the Republic of Poland and the Government of Sri Lanka on Cooperation in the Field of Tourism

The proposal made by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa to sign and ratify the above Agreement on cooperation in the field of tourism between the Government of the Republic of Poland and the Government of Sri Lanka, was approved by the Cabinet.

Commemoration of the World Environment Day 2013

All State parties including Sri Lanka which signed the environmental conventions in 1992 at the World Earth Summit in Brazil are required to commemorate the World Environment Day on 05’ June. Accordingly, arrangements have been made to implement a programme covering the whole Island on the World Environment Day that falls on 05th June 2013, under the patronage of the President, and in association with all Local Authorities and Government Institutions at District level. 5000 school children will also participate in this programme. The proposal made by Environment and Renewable Energy Minister Susil Premajayantha to proceed with the above programme, was approved by the Cabinet.

Memorandum of Understanding between China Development Bank Corporation and the Governmen

Memorandum of Understanding between China Development Bank Corporation and the Government of Sri Lanka - China Development Bank Corporation is to extend financial assistance in a sum of US $580 million in 2013 for development projects of Sri Lanka. The proposal made by the President, in his capacity as the Finance and Planning Minister to sign the above Memorandum of Understanding between China Development Bank Corporation and the Ministry of Finance and Planning of Sri Lanka, was approved by the Cabinet.

Japanese Human Resources Development .Src-holarship Programme – 2013

The Government of Japan has agreed to provide grant assistance in a sum of Japanese Yen 192 million (Approximately Rs.245 million) to Sri Lanka for the above programme to be implemented in 2013. The objective of this programme is to support human resources development by providing opportunities to government officials to follow higher educational programmes in reputed Japanese Universities, to enable them to contribute to the social and economic development of the country in a productive manner. The proposal made by the President, in his capacity as the Finance and Planning Minister to enter into a Grant Agreement for the purpose with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), was approved by the Cabinet.