Cabinet DECISIONS

Accelerated Urban Development programme for Matara

The Cabinet decided to implement number of development programmes in Matara, inclusive of the construction of a convention hall, on a proposal by the President as defence and urban development minister.

The Matara Municipal Council area has been declared as an Urban Development Area under the Urban Development Authority. The development of Nilwala Riverside Park and the development of Urban Forest will also be carried out at Rs 108 million. Around

22.75 acres of private land identified for the project will be acquired

Task Force Secretariat for CHOGM 2013 Summit

The Commonwealth Heads of Government 2013 Summit will be held in Sri Lanka in 2013. This will be the largest international event at the level of Heads of State to be held in Sri Lanka since 1976 when Sri Lanka hosted the fifth Summit of the Non Aligned Movement.

The meeting will be attended by 54 member countries.

Cabinet approval was granted to set up a Task Force Secretariat at the BMICH to proceed with work pertaining to CHOGM 2013 with an allocation of Rs 217.44 million as capital and recurrent expenditure on a proposal by External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peiris.

Officers are to be seconded from identified ministries and department such as External Affairs, Defence and Urban Development, Mass Media and Information, Economic Development for two years, to work full time for the preparatory work

MoU with Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service on Cooperative Bio Security Initiatives

A proposal by Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeyawardena to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between Australia and Sri Lanka on co-operation for bio security initiatives was approved by Cabinet.

Measures devised by International Plant Protection Convention and Montreal Protocol help prevent the spread and introduction of pests of plant and plant products when exchange of commodities take place among countries.

Fumigating with methyl bromide is a method of treatment used to prevent such occurrences.

The MoU will facilitate the training of Agriculture Ministry quarantine officers and treatment providers of the private sector by providing skills on methyl bromide fumigation.

Special Competitive Examination for Grade III Vacancies of Accountants' Service in Northern and Eastern Provinces

The Cabinet will conduct a special competitive examination to recruit officers for 63 vacancies of Grade III posts in the Sri Lanka Accountants' Service in the Northern and Eastern Provinces on a proposal made by the President as the finance and planning minister,

As per the provisions of the service minute, it is mandatory to select a batch of officers with language proficiency to meet expectations of the public living in these areas.

Those selected for appointment will serve a minimum compulsory period of l0 years in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

US$ 213 m assistance from IBRD of World Bank for Metro Colombo Urban Development Project

The proposal by the President as the finance and planning minister to conduct negotiations with International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRB) of the World Bank to obtain financial assistance in US $ 213 million for the implementation of the Metro Colombo Urban Development Project was approved by the Cabinet.

The project's objective is to reduce adverse physical and socio - economic impact of flooding in the Colombo Metropolitan Area and to improve the overall capacity of land use and economic activities in the Colombo Metropolitan Area.

It is expected to commence project activities by the Defence and Urban Development Ministry in April 2012 and to be completed within three years.