01. Control of import and use of asbestos harmful to the environment in Sri Lanka (Document No – 12)
Asbestos is used for many products including roofing sheets, floor tiles, cement pipes, brake pads of vehicles, papers, and ropes. Since 1987 importation of blue asbestos (Crocidolite) has been prohibited as it was identified as a carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO), and at present all kinds of asbestos including white asbestos (Chrysotile) have been identified as carcinogens.
About 80% of asbestos imported to Sri Lanka are used for roofing sheet production. Accordingly, the proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment, to control the use and import of asbestos from 01-01-2018 by adopting more beneficial substitutes and to prepare a operational programme to prohibit the asbestos related productions by 01-01-2024 with the view of improving the health of public, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
02. Proper management of the use of polythene to minimize environmental issues caused by them (Document No – 13)
There is an increased use of plastic and polythene related products in the society and improper use, disposal and burning of these products have caused many social, environmental, health and economic issues. Daily per capita use of polythene is about 0.5 kg and about five hundred thousand (500,000) tons of polythene materials are imported to Sri Lanka annually. Some countries in the world have completely prohibited the use of polythene and some have allowed to use selected plastic products. Considering the need of controlling environmental impacts caused by polythene and the fact that a numerous employees are engaged in plastic and polythene related industries, the proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment, to appoint a Committee of Experts to prepare a national policy and an action plan on the use of polythene, plastic and bio-degradable plastic in Sri Lanka, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
03. Declaration of National Marine resources conservation week (Document No – 14)
Disposal of non-degradable pollutants directly or through canals to the ocean has badly impacted on the marine ecosystem as well as fisheries and tourism industries. Hence, it is required to prepare a regular programme with public participation to protect these ecosystems and the sustainability of their related industries. Accordingly, the proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment, to declare the third Saturday to fourth Saturday of September of each year as the National Marine Resources Conservation Week simultaneous to the International Coastal Cleanup Day falling on the 03rd Saturday of September each year, and to implement coast cleanup and conservation activities within 17 September 2016 to 23rd September with the participation of general public, school children and government and non government organizations, and to hold its national celebrations on 17th September 2016 at Mattakkuliya coastline in Colombo, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
04. Enforcement and regulation of the international conventions and related activities pertaining to the wildlife conservation (Document No – 19)
Sri Lanka has signed several international conventions on wildlife conservation but the necessary legal provisions have not been enacted to regularize the activities related to those conventions. Therefore, the proposal made by Hon. Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlife, to amend the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance to enable the making of regulations required to implement domestically the international conventions signed by Sri Lanka including Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
05. Relocation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Document No – 21)
The Republic Building, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is currently situated was built in the British colonial era and has been identified as heritage that should be conserved. Accordingly it is essential to relocate the Ministry and the proposal made by Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Foreign Affairs, to allocate the land of about two (02) acres in Jawatta Road, Colombo, which has been identified to constrict a new building for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
06. Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of a political consultation mechanism between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (Document No – 22)
The proposal made by Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Foreign Affairs, to sign the above MoU between his official visit to Slovenia from 04th to 08th September 2016 for promotion, strengthening and expanding the political, economic, consular, technological and scientific, and cultural cooperation between the two countries, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
07. "Awakening Polonnaruwa" District Development Programme – implementation of priority water supply projects (Document No – 25)
The proposal made by Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Minister of City Planning and Water Supply, to implement nine (09) water supply projects under the above programme to provide safe drinking water for residents and to allocate funds of Rs. 6,464.36 million for year 2017 and 2018 in this regard, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
08. Implementation of new inland water transport system through private public partnership (Document No – 31)
It has been identified that an economy and speedy transport system could be introduced through canals and reservoirs where the bus and railway transportation has not been deployed sufficiently in the situation where the traffic congestion is gradually increasing. Accordingly, an efficient transportation module could be introduce to connect Colombo East-West and North-South by canals and the sea and Wellawatta – Battaramulla (through canals), Fort-Union Place (across Beira Lake), and Mattakkuliya – Hanwella (through Kelani river) have been identified by the Megapolis Transport Committee as three potential roots. The proposal made by Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka, Minister of Megapolis and Western Development, to conduct a feasibility study on the above purpose identifying a suitable private investor to establish the water transport system under the public-private partnership, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
09. Project for construction of Thambalagamuwa Police Station (Document No – 45)
Thambalagamuwa Police Station which was established in 2004 is currently situated in 02 buildings obtained for lease basis with minimum facilities and about 155 Police Officers are serving in the Police Station. It was earlier operated as a Police Post to ensure the protection of people in Muthur, Seruwawila and Trincomalee in Eastern Province. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Sagala Ratnayake, Minister of Law and Order and Southern Development, to construct a new building at an estimated cost of Rs. 90.4 million in a land owned by the Police Department, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
10. Completion of the construction of Polpithigama Police Station (Document No – 46)
The construction of Polpithigama Police Station in Nikaweratiya Police Division which about 130 Police Officers are serving, has commenced in 2007 but due to various reasons the construction work has been suspended. Therefore, the proposal made by Hon. Sagala Ratnayake, Minister of Law and Order and Southern Development, to complete the above construction by including requirements that were identified later at an estimated cost of Rs. 49.7 million, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
11. Maduru oya Right bank Development Project (Document No – 48)
Maduru Oya is one of the major reservoirs constructed under the accelerated Mahaweli Development Programme in 1982. It was expected to develop agricultural lands of 39,000 hectares in Mahaweli 'B' zone in Polonnaruwa and Batticaloa Districts. Its left bank development has been finalized but due to lack of financial allocations the right bank development has not commenced yet. The proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment, to implement the above project within 2017-2020 with the view of developing drinking water supply, irrigation, and infrastructure for the socio-economic development in Polonnaruwa and Batticaloa Districts which was affected by the war for decades, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
12. Construction of section 4 of the Central Expressway from Kurunegala to Dambulla (60 km) (Document No – 54)
The Cabinet has already approved rehabilitation of existing 150 km of roads and constructing new 100 km roads under the Awakening Rajarata development programme. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Lakshman Kiriella, Minister of Higher Education and Highways, to implement the above project, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
13. Financial Assistance from Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the proposed Capital Market Development Programme (Document No – 55)
The proposal made by Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, Minister of Finance, to conduct loan negotiations with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to obtain a loan of US$ 250 million for the development of an efficient, fixed and transparent Capital Market with a strong legal and regulatory framework, with the view of collecting financial resources required for the economic development productively through Sri Lankan Capital Market, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
