DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE CABINET OF MINISTERS AT ITS MEETING HELD ON 01-08-2017

01. Establishment of a centre of Excellence for Higher Education ( Document No 10)

It has been proposed to establish an international level university in Sri Lanka with Public Private Partnership and cooperation of high quality foreign Universities. The proposal made by Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, as the Minister of National for Policies and Economic Affairs, to establish a non-profit limited Company, implementing necessary activities such as gaining cooperation of foreign Universities and investments of Privet Sector, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

02.   Implementation of the second Integrated Road investment Programme (Document No 11)

First phase of the above programme, was implemented in 2014 and is under progress. The Second phase aims at rehabilitating and maintaining 340 km of National Roads and 3400 km of rural access roads in Northern, Eastern, Uva and Western Provinces. The Proposal made by Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, to hold negotiations with Asian Development Bank and enter in to relevant long agreements for obtaining funds, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

03.   Maintaining and expanding rail road network ( Document No 12)

The proposal made by Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, as the Minister of National policies and Economic Affairs to hold negotiations and enter in to agreements on long facilities provided by the Austrian Government, to implement a project at a cost of 7.6 million Euros, for following activities, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

   Reestablishment of 07 bridges which are more than 100 years old in coastal, Northern and Matale lines.

   Renovation of Maho, Galle and Dematagoda
   Provision of tools and equipment for maintenance of rail road network.

04.   Regulation of use of air weapons for affirming security of wild animals (Document No 16)

Air weapons used in protecting cultivations from wild animals has been alleged to be used in hunting wild animals. Accordingly, the proposal made by Minister of Sustainable Development and Wild life, Gamini Jayawickreme Perera, to implement following recommendations of the committee appointed to look in to this matter, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

   Examine the possibility of producing an air rifle with low power instead of present 0.22 MM rifle and encourage producing of an air rifle that can drive away animals by sound.

   Regulation of issuing 0.22 mm air rifles and include them in Firearms Ordinance
   Researching on controlling animals through biological methods with expert assistance.
   Limitation of using pesticides.
   Use of modern scientific methods to control the damage caused by wild animals.
   Use of traditional methods used in driving away wild animals by developing with modern technology.
   Minimizing waste disposal in open areas that causes the attraction of wild animals.
   Limit the importation of materials used in producing “Hakkapatas”

05.   Establishment of a regional secretariat in Sri Lanka for South Asian Conference on sanitation ( Document No 20)

The proposal made by Minister of City Planning and Water Supply Rauf Hakeem, to establish the above secretariat in Sri Lanka, for exchange of Knowledge and experience among South Asian Countries, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

06.   Introduction of an e- passport for Sri Lankan citizens. (Document No 24)

The Department of Immigration and Emigration has begun the basic activities of introducing an e – passport with an electronic chip that includes bio data of the owner.

Accordingly, the joint proposal made by Minister of Internal Affairs Wayamba Development and Cultural Affairs, S.B. Nawinna, and Minister of Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure Harin Fernando, to implement the above project after a proper study and under a public- privet partnership, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

07.   Establishment of Policy Frame, work of resettlement of the Strategic Cities Development Project. ( Document No 27)

The proposal made by the Minister of MegaPolis and Westerns Development Patali Champika Ranawaka ,to base the improved policy frame - work of resettlement on payment of compensation for affected parsons due to the said project, was approved of by the Cabinet of the Ministers.

08.   Amendment of Judicature Act (Increase the number of High Court Judges (Document No 31)

The proposal made by Dr. Wijayadasa Rajapaksa , Minister of Justice to publish in gazette and present in parliament for approval, the Judicature ( Amendment) Bill prepared by the legal Draftsman, for increasing the number of High Courts Judgers from 75 to 85, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

09.   Importation of cashew nuts (Document No 32)

The annual demand of cashew nuts is 20 000MT but the domestic production is only    10 000MT-12,000MT to overcome this cashew nut shortage, the following method proposed by Minister of Agriculture, Duminda Dissanayake Minister of Public Enterprise Development Kabir Hashim, and Minister of Primary Industries Daya Gamage was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

   Importation of 6,000 MT under a license issued by Director General of Agriculture, for domestic market and 15,000 MT for re – export under Temporary Importation for   Export Processing Programme (TIEP)

   Value addition for cashew nuts imported under TIEP and assure the sum of cashew imported are exported.
   Implementation of an accelerated programme to become self-sufficient in cashew in 2020.

10. Ownership of Lands and housing facilities for plantation communities (Document No.34)

The action plan presented by the Minister of Hill country New Villages, Infrastructure and Community Development, which is prepared to grant ownership of houses which were given to plantation communities under various housing projects from 2010 to 2016 in several districts including Nuwara Eliya , Badulla and Kegalle, was considered by the Cabinet of Ministers.

11.New Trade Policy of Sri Lanka (Document No.35)

The new trade policy of Sri Lanka has been prepared by a committee of Experts with various objectives and giving priority to export base trade and investment field. Accordingly, the proposal made by Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade, Malik Samarawickrema, to adopt of the said policy and to implement it through all the institutions, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

12. Award of contracts for construction of buildings in University of Jaffna.( Document No 36)

The proposal made by the Minister of Higher Education and Highways, Lakshman Kiriella to award following contracts as recommended by the Standing Cabinet Appointed Procument Committee.

   New building for Department of engineering technology and bio system technology – Rs.424.43 million

 New eight storied building for the faculty of medicine – Rs. 564.67million.

13. Purchase of water Bowsers for Local Government Institutes in Eastern Province (Document No.37)

The Proposal made by the Minister of City Planning and Water Supply, to Purchase 23 water bowsers as recommended by the Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee, as a short term solution to recurrent droughts in the area, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

14. Supply and distribution of Accessories and DI pipes for the main pump house of Angunakolapelessa water Supply Scheme (Document No.38)

Above water supply project provides safe drinking water to new prison complex of the area and about 2,000 families. The Proposal made by the Minister of City Planning and Water Supply, Rauff Hakeem to award the above contract as recommended by the Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee, at a cost of Rs. 166.74 million, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

15-16-17-18. Proposals made by the Minister of Health (Document No.41, 42, 43 & 44)

The proposals made by Dr. Rajitha Senarathna, Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, to award following contracts as recommended by the Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

I. Purchasing of essential theatrical items and equipment.

II.   Purchasing of vaccines for child immunization programme (diphtheria, tetanus, Pertussis, hepatitis B and haemophilus influenza type B) at a cost of                    USD 568,800.
III.   Purchase of medicine for treating patients with low volume of blood at a cost of USD 2.54 million.
IV.   Purchase of medicine for treating Kidney patients at a cost of USD 2.19 million.

19. Balance Construction work of four storied building for Polonnaruwa District Secretariat (Document No.45)

The Proposal made by the Minister of Home Affairs, Wajira Abeywardana, to award the contract for construction of the second phase of the above project for locating all sections of the district secretariat in the same premises, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

20-21. Restructuring of ownership of Hotels own by the government (Document No- 47 & 48)

The government has recognized Grand Hyatt Hotel and Hilton Hotel are strategically not important and the proposal made by the Minister of Public Enterprise Development Kabir Hashim ,to select private investors to sell shares of the government as mentioned below, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

•   Grand Hyatt Hotel

Appointment of Procurement Committee and a Technical Evaluation Committee for selection of private investors.

•   Hilton Hotel

Provide an opportunity to obtain 51% of shares to a suitable investor, allocate 4% of shares to staff of the company and to sell the balance 45% of shares to a fixed amount at Colombo Stock Exchange.

22. Printing of school text books to be distributed free of charge in 2018 (Document No. 49)

The proposal made by the Minister of Education Akila Viraj Kariyawasam , to print 18.53 million copies of 285 text books from 25 printing companies recommended by the Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

23. Leasing of Racecourse in Nuwara Eliya (Document No.50)

The present lease period of the above racecourse expires on 31-12-2017 and the proposal made by the Minister of Sports Dayasiri Jayasekara ,to select a suitable buyer through calling for open bids for the next to years, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

24. New Cities Development Project in Narahenpita –Kirimandala Mawatha (Document No. 51 &52)

The proposal made by Minister of Mega polis and Western Development , Patali Champika Ranawaka to utilize lands owned by various Public institutions for the above project and to provide alternative lands for the said public institutions, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

25. Payment of Compensation to parties affected by acquisition of lands to Light Rail Transit Project (Document No- 53)

Payment of a fair compensation to affected parties will help to acquire lands without delay. Accordingly, the proposal made by Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, to follow the methods of Land Acquisition and Resettlement Committees, and Super Land Acquisition and Resettlement Commitees in this regard, was approved by the Cabinet Of Ministers.

26. Obtaining Financial aids for Wind Power Generation Project (Document No - 54)

Asian Development Bank has agreed to provide USD 200 million under concessionary conditions of the total cost of USD 256.7 million of the above project and the proposal made by Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, to enter in to relevant loan agreements for obtaining these funds, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

27. Acceleration of rehabilitation and reconstruction activities in areas affected by floods and landslides (Document N -55)

The proposal made by Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, to authorize District Secretaries to award contracts less than Rs. 50 million to contractors registered at Construction Industries Development Authority, and to implement other midterm and long term relief activities through relevant ministries and Provincial Councils, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

28. Development of social ethics and morals based on reconciliation and equality through preschool education. (Document No -57)

The joint proposal made by the Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government Faizer Mustapa and Minister of Education AkilaViraj Kariyawasam, to introduce a series of lessons with ½ hours per week, with practical activities on the above purpose, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

29. Amendment of dates of Provincial Council Elections (Document No - 59)

According to the decision taken by the Cabinet on 25-07-2017, the twentieth amendment to the Constitution and Provincial Councils Elections (Amendment) Bill, was prepared by the Legal Draftsman, and the proposal made by Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, to publish them in gazette and present in Parliament for approval, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

30. Making reliefs to people affected by prevailing dry weather conditions (Document No - 60)

About 500, 000 families in 17 districts have been affected and the following proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, for providing reliefs, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

   Provide dry rations worth Rs. 5,000/ monthly from August 2017 for families who have lost their livelihood and on the basis of obtaining their labour                    for Common work.