Cabinet Decisions

Construction of a new building for the use of Army Women’s corps

The Women’s Corps of the army is located in an old building in a land of 92 perches in Kinsey Road, Borella and the proposal made by President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Defence, to build a new building for their use in the same land at an estimated cost of Rs. 94 million, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Constructing the main sewerage system in Panagoda Army Camp

The Panagoda Army Camp established in 1952 consists of 07 regiment centres including Security Force Headquarters (West) Base Hospital, quarters for officers and other rankers. The sewerage system in this camp has decayed and it is meaningless to repair the existing system. Hence, the proposal made by President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Defence, to construct a new sewerage system at an estimated cost of Rs. 80 million, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Provision of accommodation for other rankers Sri Lanka Army

The lacking of accommodation for other rankers in Army Headquarters and its affiliated institutions and Army Hospital has become an issue.

Accordingly, the proposal made by President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Defence, to construct a new building for providing such accommodation in a land owned by Sri Lanka Army in Manning Town, Narahenpita at an estimated cost of Rs. 239.12 million was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Training programme on skills development in the gem and jewellery industry

The objective of the Gem and Jewellery Research Training Institute is to increase the contribution of the industry in economic development and accordingly, the proposal made by President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment, to expand its training opportunities for providing foreign employment opportunities in this field and for developing the institute as an internationally recognized education institution, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Signing of Memorandum of Understanding between Sri Lanka and Tajikistan on cooperation in tourism field

The proposal made by Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs Minister John Amaratunge, to sign the above MoU during the Sri Lankan visit of Tajikistan President on 13-15 December 2016, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Dam Safety and Water Resources Planning Project (DSWRPP) for future development activities

There is a need of an updated national water resources development and management plan and Mahaweli Master Plan has not been updated since 1978. Accordingly, considering the water use in next 30 years 03 water resources plans i.e. National Plan of Water Usage, Updated Mahaweli Water Resources Development Plan, and Integrated Water Resources Development Plan of the Mundeni Aru Basin have been prepared under DSWRPP which was commenced in 2007.

The proposal made by President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment, to keep these plans in the Department of National Planning to be used by any institution engaged in development activities in water resource sector, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Signing of Memorandum of Understanding between Foreign Affairs Ministry and Tajikistan Foreign Affairs Ministry on political consultations

The proposal made by Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Harsha de Silva, to sign the above MoU during the Sri Lankan visit of Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon on 13-15 December 2016 on increasing bilateral relations and cooperation in political, economic, trade, scientific, technological and cultural fields, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Sri Lanka and Tajikistan on development of sports

The proposal made by Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara, to sign the above MoU during the Sri Lankan visit of Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon on 13-15 December 2016 on development of sports sector in the two countries, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Construction of building for the Outpatients department of the National Hospital

The National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL) is the biggest hospital in South East Asia which comprises of 3,300 beds and located in a land of 32 acres in Colombo area. Out Patients Department (OPD) of NHSL is still located in the building which it was initiated in 1948 and its infrastructures are not sufficient in providing a good service for more than 5000 patients arriving daily to the OPD. It has been planned to construct a new OPD with assistance from People’s Republic of China, and accordingly, the proposal made by Health Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Minister (Dr.) Rajitha Senarathne, to enter into an agreement with the government of China for implementing this project, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

 

Establishment of Millewa Industrial cluster as phase I of proposed Horana Industrial Township Development

It has been proposed to establish two industrial towns in Horana and Mirigama under the Western Megapolis plan. Accordingly, the proposal made by Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, to establish the Millewa Industrial Cluster as the Phase I of Horana Industrial Township Development Project on public-private partnership and to transfer required lands from Land Reforms Commission to Urban Development Authority, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Establishment of multipurpose Fishery harbours in Uduppuwa, Delft, Madagal and Chalei

The government plans to establish multipurpose fishery harbours covering fishery, commercial and tourism sectors. Accordingly, the proposal made by Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, to enter into a MoU with a Korean Company to undertake a feasibility study free of charge for establishment of fishery harbours with required facilities in Uduppuwa area in North-western Province and Delft, Madagal and Chalei areas in Northern Province, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Improvement of Flood protection bunds in Kelani River

About 2/3 of the basin of Kelani River faces frequent floods which is in Colombo and suburbs. It has been observed that several weak points are in the flood protection dams at the flood situation in May 2016. The main reason for this was identified as activities of illegal residents. Accordingly, the proposal made by Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Wijith Wijayamuni Zoysa, to implement a project of improving flood protection dams of Kelani River at an estimated cost of Rs. 1000 million was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Construction of Mullaitivu Police Station

Priority has been given to constriction of new buildings for Police Stations and improvements to existing stations under the programme to maintain law and order in Northern Province. The cabinet has approved the building of a new building for the Mullaitivu Police Station in 2014 instead of the rented building but the constructions have been delayed. Accordingly, the proposal made by Law and Order and Southern Development Minister Sagala Ratnayake, to initiate its constructions with immediate effect, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Budget Financing 2016 and 2017

There are local sources such as issuing government securities as well as foreign sources such as Foreign Currency Banking Units of state banks, foreign currency term financing facility, and international sovereign bonds. Such diversified options will enable low cost financing and will allow access of different investor communities who wish to invest in Sri Lanka. Accordingly, the joint proposal made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs and Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, to appoint a steering committee and a technical evaluation committee comprised of officers from General Treasury, Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs, and Central Bank of Sri Lanka, to proceed with a Foreign Currency Term Financing facility within the approved borrowing limit for 2017, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Relocation of Kolonnawa-Kelanitissa 132 kV transmission line and Biyagama-Kelanitissa 220 kV Transmission line to facilitate construction of proposed new bridge over Kelani River

Above transmission lines should be relocated to construct the proposed six lane bridge that connects with Colombo-Katunayake Expressway. Accordingly, the proposal made by Power and Renewable Energy Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, to award the contract of relocating transmission lines as recommended by the Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

‘Awakening Rajarata’ presidential programme -award of three contracts on highways development under ‘let’s awaken Polonnaruwa’ District Development Programme 2016-2020

The proposal made by Higher Education and Highways Minister, Lakshman Kiriella, Minister of to award the contracts for development of a road section of 7.5 km with 4 lane tracks in Polonnaruwa urban area of Habarana – Batticaloa road (B529), improvement of 13.6 km of Dambulla – Bakamuna – Kalagahawela road (B615) and for widening and laying carpets in a road section of 5.06 km from Polonnaruwa to Polonnaruwa new town as recommended by the Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.