Cabinet Decisions

Thursday, January 18, 2018 - 01:00

Decisions taken by the Cabinet of Ministers at its meeting held on 16.01.2018

01. Smallholder Agribusiness Partnership Programme

Proponent – President Maithripala Sirisena

Description – It was decided to give loans to parties engaged in agribusiness sector at an interest rate of 6.5%. The programme implemented with assistance from International Fund for Agriculture Development will benefit 57,500 low income rural families.

02. Implementation of socio-economic surveys and land surveys for all lands owned by Department of Railway Sri Lanka

Proponent – Transport & Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva

Description – Above survey will be done for determining and mapping all lands owned by SLR including 7,000 land lots which have been leased, with the view of proper management of such lands and resettling illegal dwellers in alternative lands.

03. Agreement between Sri Lanka and Turkmenistan for exempting persons who have diplomatic and official passports from the requirement of obtaining visa

Proponent – Internal Affairs, Wayamba Development and Cultural Affairs Minister S. B. Navinna

04. Import of bristle fibre for re-exporting after value addition

Proponent – Plantation Industries Minister Navin Dissanayake

Description – Sri Lanka earns a considerable foreign exchange through exporting 8,000 – 15,000 Mt of bristle fibre annually to about 20 countries. It was decided to import bristle fibre from India under strict rules and conditions for the above purpose until the coconut yield reaches normalcy.

05. Memorandum of understanding on agricultural Cooperation between Sri Lanka & Turkey

Proponent – Agriculture Minister Duminda Dissanayake

Description – It was decided to sign above MOU and the Cabinet has noted that an agreement is to be signed by Sri Lanka Tea Board for increasing the tea export to Turkey.

06. Obtaining technical Cooperation for increasing production, improve value chains, and commercialization of main fruits in Sri Lanka

Proponent – Agriculture Minister Duminda Dissanayake

Description – It was decided to sign a trilateral agreement with China and UN Food and Agriculture Organization to implement above Programme for improving Mango, Plantain and Pineapple cultivation under assistance of South-South Cooperation of China.

07. Improvement of free postal facilities provided for MPs and Members of Provincial Councils

Proponent – Post, Postal Services and Muslim Religious Affairs Minister M. H. A. Haleem

Description – Above facility has not been increased since 2007 while postal charges have been increased in several occasions. Hence it was decided to amend the annual amount provided for above facility as follows.

For MPs – from LKR 175,000/- to LKR 350,000/-

For Members of Provincial Councils – from LKR 24,000/- to LKR 48,000/-

08. MOU between Public Police Training Institute of Vietnam and National Police Training Institute of Sri Lanka for cooperation on Police Training and Scientific Research

Proponent – Law and Order and Southern Development Minister Sagala Ratnayake

09. Improvement of Grand Oriental Hotel Colombo through Public-Private Partnership

Proponents – Finance & Mass Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera

Public Enterprise Development Minister Kabir Hashim

Development strategies & International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama

Description – It was decided to appoint a project committee for evaluating the proposal made by HPL Hotels and Resorts on the above purpose and to proceed subject to relevant guidelines of the government.

10. Award of Contract for Installation of water main for Defence Headquarters Complex

Proponent – President Maithripala Sirisena as the Minister of Defence

Awarded to – M/S. Frigi Engineering Services (Pvt) Ltd.

Cost – LKR 494.48 million

11. Award of Contract for Installation of a Flight Information Management System

Proponent – Transport & Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva

Awarded to – M/s. Thales Air Systems S.A.S.

Cost – Total of 3.3 million euros plus LKR 65 million

12. Purchase of 50 electric buses to SLTB for improvement of urban public transport service

Proponent – Transport & Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva

Description – SLTB has 6,300 running condition buses with 2,467 buses which are older than 10 years.

SLTB needs 7,257 total buses to be deployed according to time table and presently 100% of buses run by diesel. Hence it was decided to do the above purchase for establishment of a Bus Rapid Transit System.

13. Improvement of Infrastructure of Uva Wellassa University – Phase 2

Proponent – Higher Education & Highways Minister Lakshman Kiriella

Description – It is required to begin infrastructure development work related to construction of library building, auditorium, staff teaching unit, Alternative Water Supply System and student welfare centre and main access road in 2018 to cater to increased student intake and it was decided to call for bids for selection of contractors.

14. Award of Contract for implementation of stage III of Medirigiriya Water Supply Scheme

Proponent – City Planning & Water Supply Minister Rauff Hakeem

Awarded to – M/S Squire Mech Engineering (Pvt) Ltd.

Cost – LKR 1,230 million.

15. Award of Contract for Implementing stage 1 of Anuradhapura North Water Supply Project

Proponent – City Planning & Water Supply Minister Rauff Hakeem

Awarded to – M/S Access Engineering PLC

Cost – USD 6.17 million from JICA and LKR 2,349 million of domestic funds

16. Construction of new court buildings

Proponent – Justice Minister Thalatha Athukorala

Description – It was decided to construct new buildings in Welimada, Ratnapura, Theldeniya, Pugoda, Kantale & Kilinochchi using allocations of 2018.

17. Host country agreement related to 18th summit of convention of International Trade in Endangered species of wild fauna & flora