Cabinet Decisions

New administrative office complex for Parliament at Madiwela

The proposal by President Mahinda Rajapaksa as Defence and Urban Development Minister to allocate a block of land at Madiwela belonging to the Urban Development Authority (UDA) to Parliament to construct an administrative office complex to house the offices which are not directly connected to its legislative and related matters, was approved by the Cabinet.

UDA acquired blocks of low lying land of 150 acres at Madiwela and Mirihana. The physical possession of the land has been handed over to Parliament for development activities.

Rs 1,340 m to purchase paddy in Maha season 2011/2012

The President as Finance and Planning Minister informed the Cabinet that due to the increase in the production of paddy, particularly in Vavuniya, Polonnaruwa and Mullaitivu districts, more funds had to be provided to the District Secretaries to purchase paddy. Paddy production in the Maha Season 2011/2012 increased by 33 percent.

The approved advance from the revolving fund for purchase and sale of agri- products, operated under the Treasury, allocated to the District Secretaries, which was Rs l,015 million in the previous year, has now increased by Rs 325 million to Rs 1,340 million.

Cabinet approval was granted for the increased amounts released to the District Secretaries.

Further approval was also granted to increase the limit of advance to the Paddy Marketing Board from Rs 1,900 million to Rs 2,000 million and to increase the pledged loan limit granted by the People’s Bank to Rs 16,000 million and of BoC to Rs 2,600 million.

Implementation of dengue surveillance project

The Cabinet of Ministers took note of the situation report submitted by Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena, according to which, Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kandy, Kurunegala, Batticaloa, Matara, Kegalle, Puttalam and Ratnapura districts are considered as high risk districts.

A total of 11,227 cases have been reported with 30 deaths. Over 50 percent of patients are from the Western Province. Cabinet approved a project to be carried out by the Health Ministry to minimise the dengue threat during the next four years under the direct purview of the chief epidemiologist.

Five acres allocated for Wayamba University

The joint proposal by Higher Education Minister S B Dissanayake and Coconut Development and Janatha Estate Development Minister Jagath Pushpakumara to allocate five acres from the Makandura Research Centre, belonging to the Coconut Research Institute, to the Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, to construct buildings needed for the expansion of the University, was approved by Cabinet.

Diplomatic relations to be established with 15 African countries

The government will establish diplomatic relations with 15 African countries - Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Republic of Malawi, Burkina Faso, Republic of Chad, Republic of Djibouti, Central African Republic, Gabonese Republic, Republic of Cameroon, Republic of Cote d’lvoire, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Gambia, Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Sierra Leone, Togolese Republic and Republic of Niger on a proposal by External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peiris.

Of the 62 countries in the African region, 54 are sovereign states. Sri Lanka maintains residential missions in four countries – Egypt, Kenya, South Africa and Libyan (temporarily closed due to the prevailing situation ) with concurrently accredited to several other African states.

SLTTI to be re-established as Sri Lanka Media Training Institute

On a proposal by Mass Media and Information Minister, the Cabinet approved to re- establish the Sri Lanka Television Training Institute as a state owned limited liability company under the name Sri Lanka Media Training Institute.

This will be an education and training place. SLTTI established in 1984 was initially under the SLRC to train staff for the television field and later brought under the Sri Lanka Foundation before being taken over by the Mass Media Ministry in November 2011.

Rehabilitation of national highways with concrete surfacing through domestic contractors

The rehabilitation and upgrading of sections from 0 to 8.40 km and 19.00 to 33.50 km on Naula-Elahera-Laggala-Pallegama- Hettipola B312 Road Bodagama - Hambegamuwa Kaltota B528 Road from 0 to 48.20 km, Thoppuwa - Dankotuwa Naththandiya - Madampe B419 Road from 0 to 26.65 km with concrete surfacing through domestic contractors was approved by the Cabinet as proposed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa as Ports and Highways Minister.

Urgent development programme to uplift living standards of people - affected by drought

The provision of relief to people living in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa districts in the North Central Province and also those in other districts affected by the recent drought was discussed.

Some urgent measures to be taken in this regard are: Dredging of major irrigation reservoirs to increase there water retention capacities; attending to renovation work of canal systems of major irrigation works; renovation of agricultural wells; provision of water pumps to locations where necessary; providing seed paddy free of charge to affected farmers for the next cultivation season; and engaging members of affected families between the ages of 18 and 60 in renovation work in the respective areas, making cash payments for the work done.

On a proposal by Agrarian Services and Wildlife Minister S M Chandrasena, it was also decided to appoint an Officials’ Committee consisting Secretaries of Ministries of Irrigation and Water Resources Management; Economic Development, Agriculture; Agrarian Services and Wildlife; and Disaster Management, to oversee the expeditious implementation of these relief measures.