01. Strengthening farmers in dry zone to face climate change (Document No – 10)
Sri Lanka had to experience climate changes such as increase in temperature and changes in rainfall pattern resulting disasters such as droughts and floods impacting mainly on farmers in dry zone who cultivate using rural irrigation water and rain water. Moreover, the Chronic Kidney Disease has severely spread in 81 Divisional Secretary Divisions in 11 Districts in the dry zone. Hence it has been decided to implement a project for facing climate change through combined water management with the view of gaining an amalgamated development in Malwathu Oya, Yan Oya and Mee Oya river basin areas, and to implement integrated water supply projects in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Mannar, Vavuniya, Trincomalee, Kurunegala, and Puttalam districts in those river basins, and to strength institutional and organizational structure face disaster situations. Accordingly, the proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment, to implement the above project within 07 years from 2017, using the grant of US$ 38.087 to be given by the Green Climate Fund which is established under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
02. Implementation of the green power development and energy improvement investment project – tranche 2 (Document No – 11)
Above programme is to be implemented with the aspects of broadening electricity transmission infrastructure, increasing the efficiency of medium voltage network, implementation of a demand base electricity management through implementing a pilot subproject in smart grid and metering. The proposal made by Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, to obtain funds to implement the above project from the Asian Development Bank, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
03. Air services consultations between Sri Lanka and kingdoms of Norway/Sweden/Denmark (the parties) (Document No – 13)
The proposal made by Hon. Nimal Siripala de Silva, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, to formally sign the air service agreement with above countries and to take necessary action for its enforcement which was agreed during the consultations held at Antalya in Turkey on 21-10-2015 on passenger and freighter operations, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
04. Bilateral Air services consultations between Sri Lanka and Finland (Document No – 14)
The proposal made by Hon. Nimal Siripala de Silva, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, to formally sign the air service agreement with Finland and to take necessary action for its enforcement which was agreed during the consultations held at Durban in South Africa on 12-12-2013 with the view of liberalizing freedom traffic rights for both passenger and freighter operations and to acknowledge nominated air services in two countries, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
05. Reliefs for persons affected by recent disasters: progress as at 31-08-2016 (Document No – 17)
The information provided by Hon. Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Minister of Disaster Management, on the progress of relief programmes as at August 2016, for persons affected by the explosion in Salawa Army Camp in Seethawaka Divisional Secretary Division in Colombo District on 05-06-2016, persons affected by the landslide caused by heavy rains from 10th to 17th May 2016 in Kegalle, and who were affected by floods and landslides in May 2016, was considered by the Cabinet of Ministers.
Rs. 422.85 million has been issued to the Colombo District Secretariat for providing reliefs regarding the explosions at Salawa. They are spent for providing the monthly allowances for people whose houses were destroyed and for affected self-employed persons and to pay compensation for damages to houses.
Regarding the landslide in Kegalle caused by the rain during 10th to 17th May 2016, allocations were issued time to time to the Kegalle District Secretariat for providing relief to 34,653 persons in 9,588 families. Steps are being taken to build 145 houses for families recommended to be resettled due to the high risk.
Steps will be taken to provide Rs. 586.79 million under the Natural Disaster National Insurance programme, Rs. 149.02 million under the National Insurance Programme, and Rs. 111.21 million under the General Treasury for providing reliefs for 586,731 persons in 142,992 families affected by floods and landslides in May 2016.
06. The agreement between Sri Lanka and Finland for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income (Document No – 24)
The proposal made by Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, Minister of Finance, to sign the above agreement at government level and presenting it in parliament for approval in terms of Section 97(1) (a) of the Inland Revenue Act No. 10 of 2006, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
07. Cooperation agreement between the Switzerland and Sri Lanka on migration matters (Document No – 27)
The proposal made by Hon. S.B. Navinna, Minister of Internal Affairs, Wayamba Development and Cultural Affairs, to sign and enforce the above agreement with the view of promote the bilateral relations between the two countries through dialogue which is determining factor for the prevention of and the fight against irregular migration and related criminal activities and to guarantee the effective protection of the rights of migrants and the return of persons with unauthorised stay in a secure and dignified manner, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
08. Establishment of an Industrial park for leather industry in Batticaloa district (Document No – 28)
The leather industry has been identified as a priority for development with its potential to access export market. It will help to earn a considerable amount of foreign exchange as well as to create more than 10,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce, to establish an environmental friendly industrial park in Vahanery area in Batticaloa District in line with the Poverty Alleviation Programme with the view of providing row materials for footwear and leather goods industry, providing facilities and training human resources for small scale industries, and providing common and sales facilities, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
09. Proposed development of Colombo Fort – Pedestrian web and construction of relocation shops (Document No – 33)
Colombo Fort area has become highly compacted with disorganised development and unauthorized constructions. It has been decided to utilize lands which are currently not used due to this unorganized development in organized activities. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka, Minister of Megapolis and Western Development, to construct two pedestrian webs in the land lot between Beira Lake and Lake House from D.R. Wijewardena Mawatha to Olcott Mawatha and From Olcott Mawatha to Sea Street at an estimated cost of Rs. 44 million and to construct relocation shops for removed shops in Olcott Mawatha at an estimated cost of Rs. 22 million, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
10. Unemployed graduates to be attracted to the plantation sector with skills and managerial capacity (Document No – 37)
Unemployment or underemployment of graduates has become a major social, economic and political issue. However, it has been observed that some posts in private sector are being vacant which the basic qualification is a degree. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Navin Dissanayake, Minister of Plantation Industries, to implement a pilot project to train unemployed graduates for managerial posts in Regional Plantation Companies, under the National Plantation Management Institute, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
11. Implementation of the Seethawaka River Hydropower Project of 20mw (Document No – 39)
It is expected to add 50 GW hours annually to the national grid by implementing the above project. It is proposed to be established in Hinguralakanda village in Dehiowita Divisional Secretary Division in Kegalle District. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Minister of Power and Renewable Energy, to obtain the necessary experts services from the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
12. Revocation of irrevocable deeds of gift on the ground of gross ingratitude Bill (Document No – 45)
The proposal made by Hon. Wijayadasa Rajapaksa, Minister of Justice, to publish in the gazette and present in the parliament the above bill which has been drafted for making provisions for the revocation of irrevocable deeds of gift on the ground of gross ingratitude on the order of a competent court, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
13. CABINET Subcommittee recommendations on women migrants (Document No – 56)
According to the recommendations of the above subcommittee, the proposal made by Hon. Thalatha Athukorala, Minister of Foreign Employment, to use the Family Background Report as a document that decides the eligibility of female migrant workers, to assign the task of evaluation of family background of worker to a committee chaired by the Divisional Secretary and comprised of Child Rights Promotion Officer, Early Childhood Development Officer, Women Development Officer, Child Protection Officer, Medical Officer of Health and Development Officer (Foreign Employment Ministry), and not to make any changes to the existing minimum age for female domestic workers i.e. 25 years for Saudi Arabia, 23 years for other Middle East Countries and 21 years for non-Middle East Countries, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
14. Construction of a national college of education to the students who follow the technology stream (Document No – 59)
Technology stream is already implemented in school curriculum. A National College of Education has not yet been setup for training of necessary teachers. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Minister of Education, to establish the said College in Kuliyapitiya area using funds of Rs. 1,911 million granted by the Korea International Cooperation Agency, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
15. Strengthening the public transport in hilly and rural areas (Document No – 63)
The proposal made by Hon. Nimal Siripala de Silva, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, to purchase 250 new small busses with 32-35 seating capacity to the Sri Lanka Transport Board with the view of providing a better service to the people in rural and hilly areas in Central, Sabaragamuwa and Uva Provinces, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
16. Development of infrastructure in public universities and higher education institutes (Document No – 65)
Government has given priority to provide facilities for students already studying and selected to be enrolled for government universities. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Lakshman Kiriella, Minister of Higher Education and Highways, to implement infrastructure development projects in universities of Colombo, Sri Jayawardenapura, Ruhuna, Sabaragamuwa, Peradeniya, Wayamba, Buddhist and Pali and in Gampaha Wickramarachchci Ayurveda Institute, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
17. Procurement of Antibiotics for government hospitals (Document No – 69 and 70)
The proposal made by Hon. (Dr.) Rajitha Senarathne, Minister of Health Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, to award the tender for procurement of 2,400,000 vials of Co-Amoxiclav injection 1000/200 mg vial and for procurement of 500,000 vials of Meropenem injection 1g vial, as recommended by the Cabinet Appointed Standing Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
18. Procurement of medicine to continue the Child immunisation programme (Document No – 71)
The proposal made by Hon. (Dr.) Rajitha Senarathne, Minister of Health Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, to award the tender for procurement of 100,000 vials of Adsorbed Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hepatitis B and Haemophilus Influenza type B conjugated liquid vaccine (Pentavalent) 10 dose vial, as recommended by the Cabinet Appointed Standing Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
19. Coordination of interprovincial subjects (Document No – 77)
Maintaining a proper coordination between Provincial Councils and Line Ministries, help in preventing the duplication of tasks and utilization of resources in maximum productivity. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Faizer Mustafa, Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government, to hold a seminar of Chief Secretaries and Secretaries to Line Ministries once in two months at Colombo and to organize the seminar by the Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Government, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
20. Beach nourishment at Marawila through off-shore sand mining - phase II (Document No – 78)
The Cabinet of Ministers have already approved the implementation of the above project. Accordingly, the proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment, to award the relevant contract as recommended by the Cabinet Appointed Standing Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
21. Implementation of an integrated rural development programme by the officers deployed on duty at Divisional Secretary's and Grama Niladhari's division level (Document No – 79)
Currently 14,022 Grama Niladhari Divisions have been established in 332 Divisional Secretary's Divisions. In Grama Niladhari Level 05 Field Officers including Grama Niladhari, Economic Development Officer, Divi Neguma Development Officer, Agricultural Research and Production Assistant and Family Health Officer are deployed and in Divisional Secretary's Division level 50 Field Officers representing Ministries and Departments have been deployed. The proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, to appoint a Cabinet Subcommittee to make recommendations for implementing an integrated rural development programme to obtaining the productive contribution of above officers in the national development, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
22. Appropriation bill for financial year 2017 (Document No – 82)
The proposal made by Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, Minister of Finance, to present the Appropriation Bill for year 2017 in parliament for approval, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
23. Sustainable Modal village programme for poverty eradication (Document No – 85)
The Cabinet has already declared year 2017 as the year of eradicating poverty. The poverty is not indicated by one's minimum income but with their houses. According to data given by Department of Census and Statistics and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, 165,000 identified as poorest of the poor live in slums, shanties and line rooms. Further 63% of poor people live in houses which are less than 400 square feet in extent and 10% do not have toilet facilities and many of them do not have access to electricity. The Ministry of Housing and Construction has proposed to implement the above programme in line with the year for poverty eradication. Accordingly, the joint proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, and Hon. Sajith Premadasa, Minister of Housing and Construction, to implement a programme to build 12,500 houses as 20 modal villages in one district that consists of 25 houses of 550 square feet in extent, covering areas where majority of poor people live, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
