DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE CABINET OF MINISTERS AT ITS MEETING HELD ON 19-12-2017
1. Amendment of Firing Ranges and Military Training Act No 24 of 1951 (Document No – 06)
Proponent - H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Defence
It was decided to amend the above act for enabling firing ranges to be used in providing proper training to security officers recruited to private security agencies, state banks, public institutions and semi-government institutions.
2. Establishment of Institute of National Security Studies Sri Lanka by a parliament act (Document No – 07)
Proponent - H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Defence
It was decided to instruct the Legal Draftsman to draft legislations on the above purpose achieve its main objective, which is to become the hub of defence knowledge.
3.Control of forest fires in Sri Lanka (Document No – 09)
Proponent - H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment
All forest fires in Sri Lanka are caused due to negligence of people and in 2016 2945 hectares of forests have been destroyed due to fires. It was decided to implement a series of programmes covering the whole island to control forest fires including setup of fire belts, establishment if fire emergency response units, and making aware the public.
4. Improvement of Civil flight operations in Ratmalana Airport (Document No – 12)
Proponent - Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva
A land of 25 acres in south side of the runway has been identified to expand civil flight operations and it was decided to locate sections of Sri Lanka Air Force located in the said land in the northern part of the airport with the consensus of the air force.
5. Signing of MoU between Sri Lanka and Belgium regarding establishment of a bilateral consultation mechanism (Document No – 13)
Proponent - Foreign Affairs Minister Thilak Marapana
It was decided to sign above MoU between Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sri Lanka and Belgian Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation.
6. Acquisition of a land to construct a television studio complex in Northern Province for 'Chanel of Reconciliation' (Document No – 17)
Proponent - Finance and Mass Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera
It was decided to transfer a land of 100 perches from the land that Jaffna/Meesalei Weerasingham Central College is located to SLRC on the above purpose.
7. Construction of a six storied building for Sri Lanka Textile and Apparel Institute (Document No – 20)
Proponent - Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen
It was decided to construct the above building instead of the four storied building proposed to be built earlier.
8. Construction of Colombo International Financial City Building Complex in Colombo Port City (Document No – 22)
Proponent - Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka
Above task has been assigned to Skid more Owings & Merrill Institution which is selected through an international competition and the investment is about USD 1 billion. It was decided to sign a MoU among China Harbour Engineering Corporation, Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development, and Colombo Port City Private Company for enabling above amount to be obtained as a direct foreign investment.
9. Accreditation of Raw Rubber and Chemical Analysis Laboratories of Rubber Research Institute Sri Lanka (Document No – 23)
Proponent - Plantation Industries Minister of Navin Dissanayake
Above laboratory established before 40 years should be modernized to suit present day needs and above proposal was approved by the cabinet.
10. Make it compulsory to hear cases daily in High Courts (Document No – 26)
Proponent - Justice Minister Thalatha Athukorala
It was decided to amend Code of Criminal Procedure Act No 15 of 1979 on the above purpose to expedite case hearings. Total number of cases under hearing in September 2017 was 17565.
11. Creating a Deputy Principal Post in Sri Lanka Law College (Document No – 27)
Proponent - Justice Minister Thalatha Athukorala
Amended Rules for recruitment of staff to Law College on the above purpose are published in gazette extraordinary No. 2047/27 dated 18-11-2017 and it was decided to present it in parliament.
12. MoU for strengthening ties between SLIDA and KDI School of Policy and Management for providing trainings for government officers in Sri Lanka (Document No – 30)
Proponent - Public Administration and Management Minister Ranjith Maddumabandara
Cabinet has decided to sign the above MoU.
13. Improvement of quality and recognition of degree courses offered by University of Vocational Technology Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka Ocean University (Document No – 37)
Proponent - Higher Education and Highways Minister Lakshman Kiriella
Finance and Mass Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera
Skills Development and Vocational Training Minister Chandima Weerakkody
It was decided to adopt the method of institutional review and subject/programme review followed for other universities by the UGC to above universities in order to increase their quality and recognition.
14. Obtaining consultancy services to construct proposed tunnel to be constructed under Mahaweli Water Security Investment Programme (Document No – 38)
Proponent - H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment
It was decided to award the above contract to Lhameyer International Gmph GeoConsult ZT GmbH who is the present consultant of this programme.
15. Contract for supply of water control and measuring facilities for left bank and right bank canals and heightening of Minipe dam under Mahaweli Water Security Investment Programme (Document No – 39)
Proponent - H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment
Awarded to – China Gezhouba Group Company Ltd
Cost – LKR 1,576.9 million
16. Contract for construction of buildings required to relocate Pettah Manning Market in Peliyagoda (Document No – 41)
Proponent - Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka
Awarded to – Maga Engineering Pvt. Ltd
Cost – LKR 4507 million
17. Maintenance of turbine and related accessories in unit 02 of Lak Vijaya Power Plant (Document No – 42)
Proponent - Power and Renewable Energy Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya
Awarded to – China Machinery Engineering Corporation
The agreement entered with the above company as its first contractor is valid until Sep 2019.
Cost – LKR 263.4 million
18. Construction of extra 44 bridges using balance allocations of Rural Bridges Project (Document No – 43)
Proponent - Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Faizer Mustafa
It was decided to build 35 additional bridges and 09 temporary bridges as one for each province and to extend the project period from 08 Mar 2018 to 31 Aug 2018.
19. Contract for laying of synthetic running track and improvement if athletic ground of the proposed Sports Academy in Diyagama, Homagama (Document No – 45)
Proponent - Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara
Awarded to – CML – MTD Construction Ltd.
Cost – LKR 310 million
20. Award of contracts to establish small scale Solar Power Plants under 'Surya Bala Sangramaya' programme (Document No – 48)
Proponent - Power and Renewable Energy Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya
Proposals have been called from investors to set up 60 Power plants and it was decided award these contracts as per the recommendations of Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee and Procurement Appeal Board.
21. Promotion of organic food production and opening of export market for such products (Document No – 49)
Proponent - H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena
Social Empowerment, Welfare and Kandyan Development Minister S.B Dissanayake
Several programmes including following to improve food production and income of farmers related to above programme were decided to be implemented.
Provide training on organic agriculture to 15000 selected farmers
Provide training for 2500 young farmers on mushroom production with assistance of a group of specialists from China.
Establish several model farms with modern technology and provide employment opportunities for about 6500 youths
Obtaining a land lot for construction of Accident and Emergency Treatment Unit in East Colombo Base Hospital (Document No – 50)
Proponent - Health Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Minister (Dr.) Rajitha Senarathne
A land lot of 01 hectare has been leased to a private party in 2001 and as the lease conditions have not been fulfilled, it was decided to cancel the agreement and use it on the above purpose.
23. Providing quarters for junior police officers in Southern Province (Document No – 53)
Proponent - Law and Order and Southern Development Minister Sagala Ratnayake
It was decided to allocate LKR 729.6 million to purchase 192 houses from 'Nila Sevana' housing project in Galle on the above purpose.
24. Solving administrative, salary and professional issues of Railway Department (Document No – 54)
It has already been decided to appoint a Cabinet Committee on the above matter and to appoint a Committee of Officials to assist them. It was decided to appoint such a committee comprised of Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration and Management as the Chairman, Secretaries of 03 other ministries, one each representative from Public Service Commission and National Salaries and Cadre Commission and a specialist in human resource management in private sector.
25. Solving the issue of cost of living and making reliefs on floods and droughts (Document No – 57)
Proponent – Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe
It was decided to take following action with immediate effect on the above matter.
Establishment of a family budget unit to review provision of essential goods to an affordable price
Establishment of a Coordinating Committee chaired by secretary to Ministry of Finance and Mass Media to affirm the success of implementing decisions taken by Subcommittee on Cost of Living.
Implement a programme to distribute a relief pack which includes rice, dhal, sugar, sprats, onion, potatoes, and canned fish through supermarkets, Sathosa and other shops
Reimburse 50% of income tax and provide reliefs on electricity for institutions that participate in this programme
To expedite import of coconut kernel assign its responsibility to Secretary to the Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs.
Look into the opportunity of obtaining help of Australia for following method of quarantine in coconut importation.
Pay the difference between compensation paid by insurance trust fund and assessed damage through District Secretaries before 31 Dec 2017.
Take necessary action to make relief to families whose cultivation has been damaged for several seasons in Kurunegala, Puttalam, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa and Vanni Districts.
Conducting combined operations by Wildlife Officers, Police Officers, and Armed Forces to protect Wild Elephants and Wildlife Resources in Sri Lanka (Document No – 58)
Proponent - Sustainable Development and Wildlife Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera
It was decided to establish a Combined Task Force comprised of Wildlife Conservation Department, Police Special Task Force, and Armed Forces and to obtain help of Forest Conservation Department and Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority on the above matter.
It was also decided to amend Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance to implement life imprisonment for who is proclaimed guilty of killing a wild elephant.
27. Expanding of Nanotechnology and Science Park (Document No – 59)
Proponent - Science, Technology and Research Minister Susil Premajayantha
It was decided to further expand facilities of the above park for obtaining more benefits.
28. Implementation of a digital publicity campaign by Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau in 2018 (Document No – 61)
Proponent - Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs Minister John Amaratunge
As recommended by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Management, it was decided to call for bids from digital publicity agencies to select a suitable agency to implement the above project to make Sri Lanka the most favourable destination of UK, Germany, France, India and China.
29. Implementation of an anti-insurance cover to cover agricultural insurance covers funded by National Insurance Trust Fund (Document No – 64)
Proponent - Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs
It was decided to sign agreements with Swiss Re Asia PTE Ltd. and J.B. Boda & Co(S) PTE Ltd. of Singapore to obtain this cover for the period of 01-01-2018 to 31-12-2018, at an amount of LKR 257.8 million.
30. Criteria to be followed by electronic and print media during the period of a referendum or an election (Document No – 65)
Proponent - H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena
Above criteria issued by Elections Commission are being published in the gazette extraordinary No. 2048/1 dated 04-12-2017 and it was decided to present the gazette in parliament for approval.
31. Amendment of salaries and allowances of Judges, and Legal Officers in Attorney General Department and Legal Draftsman's Department (Document No – 66)
It was decided to amend salaries of above officers considering the responsibility they bear from 2018 and it was decided to present a proposal in this regard to the parliament.
32. Metro Colombo Solid Waste Management Project – Signing of grant agreement for Project processing special fund (Document No – 67)
Proponent – Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe
The Asian Infrastructure Improvement Bank agreed to provide a grant of USD 700000 to expedite the above project and it was decided to sign a grant agreement between Sri Lankan Government and AIIB for obtaining the grant.
33. Suspension of Sri Lankan Tea imports by Russia (Document No – 68)
Russia has suspended Sri Lankan tea imports from 18-12-2017 when they found a larva of a khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium) in a container of Sri Lankan tea. As about 11% of Sri Lankan tea exports are to Russia this is a considerable matter and Plantation Industries Minister Navin Dissanayake said it is confusing to find such a beetle as they are very rare in Sri Lanka.
Accordingly, he added that he will visit Russia very shortly when a date for negotiation is given by the Government of Russia with a group including Chairman of Sri Lanka Tea Board, Director General of Agriculture, Officers of National Plant Quarantine Service and Specialists of Sri Lanka Tea Board and Tea Research Institute. Cabinet also approved to make necessary other responses suitable for lifting this ban.
34. Production and use of asbestos and import of raw material required for manufacturing asbestos
Government has taken a policy decision to limit import of raw material required to manufacture asbestos on 06-09-2016 which is to be implemented with effect from 01-01-2018. Government had paid its attention on various clarifications made by the construction field and specialists.
Few members of the cabinet pointed out the difficulties faced by house constructers with this limitation as 80% of imports are done for manufacturing roofing material. There was a long discussion on difficulty of providing substitute products to the market within a limited time.
Accordingly, the cabinet has decided to suspend its decision to ban production, use and importation of material to manufacture asbestos in Sri Lanka with effect from 01-01-2018.
