CABINET DECISIONS

Amendment to National Environment Act

Concerns had been raised recently regarding prevailing environmental issues such as water pollution, inefficiency of garbage-regulation as well as illegal constructions.

Hence, a proposal forwarded by President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Mahaweli Development and Environment Minister, to amend National Environment Act No. 47 of 1980 and to instruct draftsmen to prepare a necessary bill for the purpose, was approved by the Cabinet of ministers.

Funds for purchasing locomotive engines

With the view of enhancing the upcountry railway service, a proposal made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the National Policies and Economic Affairs Minister, to purchase 12 locomotive engines, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Accordingly, it had been decided to enter into an agreement for the provision of US$ 48.67 million from the Standard Chartered Bank, with the aid of the Canada Exports Development Institute.

Issuance of title deeds under Awarakotuwa resettlement project

Under the Muthurajawela Development Project executed in 1994, illegal settlers were relocated to a different region of the same developed land.

The Cabinet of ministers approved the proposal made by Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, to grant title deeds to underprivileged families.

Samurdhi subsidies for 150,000 low-income families

The Samurdhi subsidy programme currently provides services to approximately 1.38 million families. However, it had been identified that there were Samurdhi beneficiaries who had not been subsidised and hence, a proposal made by Social Empowerment Minister P. Hanson, to expand services to an additional 150,000 low-income families as recommended by the respective Divisional and District Secretaries, was approved by the Cabinet of ministers.

Implementation of Sampath Piyasa model village programme

Under the model house village project implemented under the National Housing Programme which provides low-income families lands and houses, 75 modern villages had been granted to the public.

Accordingly, Cabinet approved a proposal made by Housing and Constructions Minister Sajith Premadasa, to set up a Sampath Piyasa unit introduced by the Central Environmental Authority, at each modern village, under the directions of the Presidential Task Force.

Purchasing 160 passenger compartments

The Cabinet of ministers approved a proposal made by Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, to award a contract to purchase 160 passenger compartments under the Indian Loan Subsidy, to M/s Rights Ltd., for US$ 82.63 million, upon the recommendation of a Cabinet-appointed negotiation committee.

Deltota Water Supply Project

A proposal made by City Planning and Water Supply Minister Rauff Hakeem, to work with and call proposals from the M/s M-U-T GmbH Institute of Austria, for the implementation of the Deltota Water Supply Project, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Mineral Sand sales by Lanka Mineral Sands Institute

The Lanka Mineral Sands Institute is a state-owned company functioning under the Industries and Commerce Ministry.

Cabinet approved a proposal made by Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, to vend 25,000 tonnes of ilmenite to Rescom Mineral Trading PZE at a price of US$ 145,250 per metric tonne, upon the recommendation of a Cabinet-appointed procurement committee.

Awarding consultancy services contract for Uva projects

The Asian Development Bank had agreed to provide US$ 900 million in order to implement the aforementioned projects. Cabinet approval had also been granted to implement the programmes in the Southern, Eastern, Uva and Western Provinces.

In accordance with the recommendation of a Cabinet-appointed consultative procurement committee, a proposal forwarded by Highways and Road Development Minister Kabir Hashim, to award a contract to supply consultative services for projects in the Uva Province, including the supervision of constructions and management of contracts to Pyunghawa Engineering Consultants of Korea and the Consulting Engineers and Architects Associated Pvt. Ltd., for Rs.1.154 million, was approved by the Cabinet of ministers.

Development of Bibile – Chenkaladi, Padiyathalawa – Tampitiya roads

Loan facilities had been recently provided by the

Saudi Fund, to develop 86.75 km of road from Bibile to Chenkaladi.

Cabinet approved a proposal made by Highways and Road Development Minister Kabir Hashim, to award the following two packages of the contract executed under the same project to Consulting Engineers & Contractors Pvt. Ltd., upon the recommendation of a Cabinet-appointed standing procurement committee.

• Development of 29 km road from Bibile to Padiyathalawa for Rs. 2.389 billion.

• Development of 30 km road from Padiyathalawa to Tampitiya for 2.295 billion.

Kerosene price reduction

The government had previously decided to increase the price of kerosene, however, taking requests made by fishermen and low-income families (whose livelihoods depend on kerosene) into consideration, the Cabinet of ministers had approved a proposal made by Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and Rural Economic Affairs Minister Vijith Vijayamuni Zoysa, to reduce the price of a litre of kerosene from Rs. 110 to Rs. 70.

Finance Ministry Annual Report – 2017

 

In accordance with the provisions of Fiscal Management (Responsibility) Act No. 3 of 2003, a report on the final budget conditions should be tabled in Parliament by the Finance Minister.

Accordingly, a proposal made by Finance and Mass Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera, to table the Finance Ministry's Annual Report for 2017, was approved by the Cabinet of ministers.