Cabinet Decisions

Ape Suwaya Rate Saviya (‘Our Health – Country’s Strength’) - national health promotion programme

Proponent - President Maithiripla Sirisena

Description - The project will be implemented as a pilot project in the Polonnaruwa, Kalutara, Moneragala, Badulla, Batticaloa and Kilinochchi Districts from February 2018 to address the problem of non-communicable diseases.

Improvement of water pipe system in line with the Orugodawatta-Ambatale Road Development Project

Proponent- Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs

Description - It was decided to enter in to relevant loan agreements with Unicredit Bank of Austria and People’s Bank for obtaining funds to implement the above project.

Construction of rural bridges

Proponent - Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs

Description – The government has planned to construct 4,000 bridges under the Direct Lending Facility of the United Kingdom and it was decided to authorize the Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Government to call for proposals from construction institutions in the UK at a cost of £50 million and to authorize the relevant Technical Evaluation Committee and the Procurement Committee to make recommendations on the above matter.

Obtaining funds for General Education Modernization Project

Proponent – Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs

Description – It was decided to hold loan negotiations with the International Development Agency of the World Bank for obtaining funds amounting to US$ 100 million for implementing the above project.

Air Transport Bill

Proponent - Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva

Description - It was decided to publish the above Bill in the Gazette and present it in Parliament for approval.

Provision of an allowance of Rs. 50,000 for house owners who have been evacuated due to the collapsing of the Meethotamulla waste dump

Proponent - Disaster Management Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa

Description - It was decided to further provide a Rs. 50,000 allowance to 60 identified families until the assessment and payment of compensation is completed.

Signing of MOU between the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka and the German Academic Exchange Service of Germany on cooperation in science and research studies

Proponent - Science, Technology and Research Minister Susil Premajayantha

Implementation of Middle Income Housing Loan Scheme

Proponent - Finance and Mass Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera

Description - The above project will provide loans through the NSB up to Rs. 5 million with a repayment period of 25 years. Interest for the first five years is 7%. The balance 5% will be paid by the government and it was decided to enter into relevant agreements with the NSB for implementing this project.

Implementation of Sustainable Urban Development Project

Proponent - Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka

Description - It was decided to implement the above project and obtain necessary funds with a view to developing the following 13 cities as strategic cities: Kandy, Galle, Jaffna, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Badulla, Ratnapura, Matara, Kurunegala, Nuwara Eliya and Dambulla.

Construction of a building complex for offices of Parliament, offices of national commissions, Cabinet offices and other government offices

Proponent – Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka

Description – It was decided to construct a building complex with 35,000m2 of building space, 15,000 m2 of common space and with parking space. It was also decided that project is to be completed within three years.

Establishment of South Asian Regional Intelligence and Coordination Centre for fighting organized crime

Proponent – Law and Order and Southern Development Minister Sagala Ratnayaka

Description – It was decided to establish the above centre in Sri Lanka and to establish it temporarily within the premises of the Dangerous Drugs Control Board.

Amendment of Voluntary Social Service Organizations (Registration and Supervision) Act No. 31 of 1980

Proponent - National Coexistence, Dialogue, and Official Languages Minister Mano Ganeshan

Description – It was decided to publish the draft bill in the Gazette and present it to Parliament for approval.

Preparation of coastline from Mount Lavinia to Angulana under the Southern Colombo Sand Engine Project

Proponent – President Maithripala Sirisena as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment

Description – It was decided to implement above project using Rs 800 million from the allocations for 2018 and to select a suitable contractor through an international competitive bidding process.

Award of contract for the construction of the third phase of the Central Expressway from Pothuhera to Galagedera via Rambukkana (32.5km)

Proponent – Prime Minister as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs

Description - Tokyo Mitsubishi Bank of Japan has agreed to provide funds of Japanese Yen 100 billion and it was decided to award the contract to M/S Taisei Corporation of Japan.

Providing waste water disposal facilities for Colombo Port City Premises

Proponent – Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka

Description – A piling foundation has to be constructed for the above purpose and the contract was awarded to M/S ELS Construction (Pvt) Ltd, at a cost of Rs. 48 million.

Improvement of grid substations under Green Energy Development and Energy Efficiency Improvement Investment Project

Proponent - Power and Renewable Energy Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya

Description –It was decided to purchase two transformers the Pannipitiya and Veyangoda grid substations and to purchase five 36kV GIS connecting panels for Kalutara, Kesbewa, Old Anuradhapura, Kappalturai and Kerawalapitiya grid substations.

Award of contract for supply of fire fighting vehicle/equipment for Colombo Municipal Council

Proponent –Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Faizer Musthapha

Awarded to –M/S Rosenbauer International AG of Austria; cost - €10.3 million.

Award of contracts for development of infrastructure in universities

Proponent – Higher Education and Highways Minister Lakshman Kiriella

Description - It was decided to award following contracts

(I) University of Colombo – construction of a student service centre for Science Faculty.

Awarded to State Engineering Corporation

Cost – Rs. 381.49 million

(II) Sri Lanka Buddhist and Pali University - construction of Language Proficiency Development Centre and an examination hall.

To – Central Engineering Service (Pvt) Ltd

Cost – Rs. 2015.42 million

(III) Trincomalee Campus of Eastern University of Sri Lanka - construction of a multipurpose auditorium.

To – M/S Link Engineering (Pvt) Ltd

Cost– Rs. 674.47 million

(IV) Eastern University of Sri Lanka - construction of a building complex for Faculty of Communication and Business Studies

To – M/S Edward and Christier (Pvt) Ltd

Cost – Rs. 701.18 million

Providing tax concessions for lands provided on long-term lease basis for agricultural affairs

Proponent – Land and Parliamentary Reforms Minister Gayantha Karunathilaka

Description – The following concessions will be provided:

(i) Exempt from charge of three times as the annual tax.

(ii) Instead of 50 percent tax increase every five years, add only 20 percent to previous year’s tax amount.

(iii) In case of extension of lease period, consider the value calculated by adding 20 percent to the lease amount of previous lease period as its initial lease amount.

Obtaining funds from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank for implementing Sri Lanka Accelerated Solid Waste Management Project

Proponent – Prime Minister as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs

Description – Estimated cost of the project is US$ 274 million. Funds will be provided as follows:

USD 115 million – International Bank for Reconstruction and Development of the World Bank

USD 115 million – Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)

USD 44 million – Government of Sri Lanka

It was decided to hold loan negotiations with AIIB for obtaining the loan of US$ 115 million granted by them.