Cabinet Decisions | Daily News

Cabinet Decisions

Sugar development project in Bibila

The project is proposed to be implemented to provide lands for farmers living in the Rambaken Oya special economic region of the Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority to uplift their living status. It is to be implemented as a public private partnership investing USD 152.25 million and it expects to produce 80,000 MT of sugar annually. It has planned to provide 1,000 direct employments and about 75,000 indirect employments. It has also planned to produce animal food and organic fertiliser as by-products and to implement a sub-project to generate 20Mw of electricity. The proposal for the project which includes the Bibila and Medagama Divisional Secretary’s Divisions, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

‘Swashakthi’ National Programme

The programme is implemented by the National Policies and Economic Affairs Ministry conjointly with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) to create one million employments. It expects to grant loan facilities with commercial and regional development banks to create 25,000 entrepreneurs. Successful business plans are considered in this regard, and they will be granted loans subject to a maximum of Rs. 250,000/- as a financial grant of Rs. 50,000/- and a loan of Rs. 200,000/-. Accordingly, the proposal made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the National Policies and Economic Affairs Minister, to implement the project through CBSL was approved.

Extending concessionary period granted to register motorcycles imported illegally and circulated in market

The Cabinet has approved registering illegally imported motorcycles up to 450cc engine capacity subject to a surcharge charged on the engine capacity till 31-01-2017. Within this period, 1,558 motorcycles have been registered and around another 2,500 applications have been received for registration. Accordingly, the proposal made by Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva to extend the period from another two months from 31-01-2017 to 31-03-2017 enabling proper completion of the registration activities was approved.

Establishing a national Air Transport facilitation programme and a national Air transport facilitation Committee

The Convention on International Civil Aviation has stipulated 452 standards and recommended practices which should be followed in air transport operations, and Sri Lanka, as a member of the convention, is bound to implement these practices. Accordingly, the proposal made by Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva to appoint the NATFC chaired by the Transport and Civil Aviation Ministry Secretary and with the participation of other relevant officials and assign the preparation and implementation of the NATFP to that committee, was approved.

Reviewing cadre in public institutions

Although the public sector has been expanded as one public servant for 15 citizens, gaining of annual goals is insufficient, which has decreased the public appreciation on the public service. Moreover, there is a deficit of officers in rural areas and some urban areas have more than required. In addition, there are a large number of primary level employees compared to tertiary and senior level officers.

Accordingly, a review on the cadre of public institutions will be done by the Finance Ministry with the participation of the Public Administration and Management Ministry, National Salaries and Cadre Commission, and the Finance Commission, based on information gained through the Circular No. 01/2017 dated 11-01-2017 issued by the Department of Management Services of the General Treasury, and the cadre requirement of public service and provincial councils will be decided on its outcomes. The information presented by Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake was approved.

Increasing annual aid granted to aged and ailing artistes by Department of Cultural Affairs

The Cabinet has already approved the increase of the aid provided from Rs. 5,000/- to Rs. 10,000/-. Accordingly, the method to select eligible artistes to grant the aids was presented by Internal Affairs, Wayamba Development and Cultural Affairs Minister S.B. Navinna was considered.

Controlling coconut price in domestic market

Coconut Research Institute has forecasted that the coconut harvest may decrease from 13.9% in January–August 2017 compared to 2016, and it could cause an increase in the coconut price. Therefore, short term strategies should be implemented to maintain the coconut price in a certain level. Accordingly, the proposal made by Plantation Industries Minister Navin Dissanayake to amend the special commodity levy enabling importation of 40,000 MT of edible oil required for four months was approved.Reduce special commodity levy of a kilogram of coconut oil from Rs. 150/- to Rs. 130/-

Reduce special commodity levy of a kilogram of crude coconut oil/crude palm oil from Rs. 130/- to Rs. 110/-

Reduce special commodity levy of a kilogram of palm kernel and refined palm oil from Rs. 150/- to Rs. 130/-

Project to improve efficiency and productivity of irrigation system

The proposed project will reconstruct 80 main and medium scale irrigation schemes which have not been reconstructed since past 25-35 years, and it will benefit about 98,000 agrarian families. Accordingly, the proposal made by Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Wijith Wijayamuni Zoysa to implement the project within 2017-2021 at Rs. 18,500 million was approved.

Providing relief for those who have faced various issues due to political reasons

According to the Circular No. 09/2015 dated 17-04-2015 issued on the purpose, 31,666 appeals have been received by the Public Administration and Management Ministry. Of them, 23,093 appeals have been presented to the Cabinet in three stages and implementing their recommendations have been approved. The proposal made by Public Administration and Management Minister Ranjith Maddumabandara to implement recommendations on another 3,440 appeals related to six ministries from the rest 8,573 appeals as its 4th stage through the respective administrative authorities, was approved.

Selling local stamps and associated items to foreign stamp collectors

Selling stamps and associated items to local and foreign stamp collectors is done by the Philatelic Bureau established in 1967. This helps earn foreign exchange and promote the tourism industry through natural and archaeological aspects depicted in stamps. It is required to appoint foreign agents to sell stamps to foreign stamp collectors and the proposal made by Post, Postal Services and Muslim Religious Affairs Minister M.H.A. Haleem to appoint such agents and enter into agreements with them was approved.

Improving Police Hospital

The Police Hospital founded in 1911 has to be improved to provide treatment for police officers, their family members, and retired police officers. Accordingly, the proposal made by Law and Order and Southern Development Minister Sagala Ratnayake to acquire a land of two roods and 23.5 perches in Narahenpita, opposite the hospital, owned by the UDA to the Sri Lanka Police, was approved.

Procuring food items (raw, dry rations and miscellaneous items) required for tri-forces in 2017

The proposal made by President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Defence Minister, to award the contract at Rs. 17,555 million to 28 suppliers as recommended by the Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee was approved.

Procuring government securities trading IT infrastructure

The Cabinet has already approved the procurement of the facilities and considering the complexity of the procurement and according to the recommendations of Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee, the proposal made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the National Policies and Economic Affairs Minister, to call for proposals in this regard under the Two Stage Bidding, was approved.

Purchasing 20 sniffer dogs to be deployed at BIA by Sri Lanka Air Force

It is important to deploy sniffer dogs that can identify explosives, firearms, drugs, money, and illegal items in airports to protect civil aviation services.

Accordingly, the proposal made by Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva to purchase 20 sniffer dogs and deploy them in the Bandaranaike International Airport was approved.

Purchasing new 1,000 buses for SLTB

At present, many people are not confident in public transportation and use their private vehicles causing traffic congestion, traffic hazards and environment pollution. Creating an efficient and confident service may attract many of them to public transportation. Moreover, public transportation should be developed as a whole with a bus-train integrated service. Accordingly, the proposal made by Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva to purchase 40-46 high back seater (2x2) 900 nos. buses and 100 nos. new low floor AC buses through the Indian Line of Credit on the purpose, was approved.

Commencing a project to produce organic fertiliser, establishing cooling storage facilities and generating power

A German company has agreed to implement the project with several domestic companies. Under this project, it is expected to establish an organic fertiliser production unit near the Kandy Waste Management Yard and within the first year, the produced fertiliser will be provided to the Ceylon Fertilizer Company for free.

It also expects to add 6-10 MW of renewable electricity to national grid and reduce the amount of wasting fruits and vegetables through establishing storing facilities.

The proposal made by Agriculture Minister Duminda Dissanayake to implement the project as recommended by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Management, was approved.

Amending Sugathadasa National Sports Complex Authority Act No. 17 of 1999

The Sugathadasa National Sports Complex Authority provides sports facilities administrated by them on concessionary rates and use its income to maintain the facilities.

However, its current income is insufficient for their maintenance.

Hence, the proposal made by Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara to amend the Act enabling the Authority to provide national sports complexes for activities that an income could be made such as artistic activities, seminars, and examinations, when they are not used in sports activities, was approved.

 


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