01. Grant and Technical Assistance of Euro 43.7 million from the European Union
The European Union has agreed to provide a grant (a non-repayable financial aid) of 43.7 million Euros out of which 38 million Euros in support of the Integrated Rural Development Programme in Central and Uva Provinces and for Trade Related Assistance programme in Sri Lanka, and 5.7 million Euros as technical assistance to the Water Supply and Drainage Board.
Out of the 38 million Euros, 30 million Euros of the grant are expected to be utilized in Integrated Rural Development Programme in Central and Uva Provinces. The programme intends to improve livelihood, income level, health and nutrition of low income receivers of the said provinces and to strengthen the social and economic services rendered by Local Government Institutions, Community Organizations, and Private Institutions. Other 8 million Euros are intended to be utilized in Programme for Trade related Assistance in Sri Lanka, which intends to increase the competitiveness of Sri Lankan exports in the foreign market, implementation of policy and regulatory reforms on GSP+ of the European Union, and to implement a Trade Policy that includes measures to be implemented on regaining the GSP+ trade concession. Moreover, the 5.7 million Euros to be given to the Water Supply and Drainage Board for technical assistance programme, will grant technical assistance in Institutional Management and Technical Skills Development with special attention on Waste Water Management.
The proposal made by Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as the Minister of National Policy and Economic Affairs, to enter into relevant agreements on this purpose, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
02. Registration of Persons, Issuance of Electronic National Identity Cards and establishment of National Register of Persons
Although the Cabinet approval has already been granted to establish the National Register of Persons and to issue an Electronic National Identity Card, with the authority vested in the Department of Registration of Persons by the Registration of Persons Act No 32 of 1968, the process has been delayed due to various technical reasons. The proposal made by Hon. S.B. Navinna, Minister of Internal Affairs, Wayamba Development and Cultural Affairs, to plan and implement the relevant project with regard to the issue of an Electronic National Identity Card for all citizens who are eligible to obtain a National Identity Card, within a period of two years, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
03. Strengthening of Regional Industrial Estate Development Programme
Twenty nine (29) Industrial Estates have been established in government lands under the above programme by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce with the view of promoting industries in regional level which have created various direct and indirect occupations and other economic benefits. The joint proposal made by Hon. M.K.A.D.S. Gunawardena, Minister of Lands and Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce, to simplify the process of granting lands in order to encourage investors, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
04. BIMSTEC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters
In the seventh meeting of the Combined Working Committee on anti-terrorist and Transnational crimes of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation – BIMSTEC) held in August this year in Bangkok, the member states comprising Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan, and Nepal, , Thailand, have agreed on the Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in criminal matters.
Provisions that enables Sri Lanka on exchanging assistance with foreign countries in such situations, are being offered by the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act No. 25 of 2002. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Dr. Wijedasa Rajapaksa, Minister of Justice, to sign and ratify the BIMSTEC convention, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
05. Providing provisions for Pre-Trial Procedures
Long delays in trial procedures have undermined public confidence in the judicial system and the public is confronted with serious financial problems with this situation. Various measures have been taken to solve the problem but a large number of trials are still on progress. The proposal made by Hon. Dr. Wijedasa Rajapaksa, Minister of Justice, to draft amendments to the Civil Procedure Code enabling to introduce Pre-Trial Procedures to solve this issue, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
06. Construction of a building for the Sri Lanka Anti-doping Agency
The Sri Lanka Anti-doping Agency is established under article 10 of the Convention against Doping in Sports Act. No. 33 of 2013 with the intention of working in cooperation with international organizations on anti-doping activities in sports. The proposal made by Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekera, Minister of Sports, to build the headquarters building of the said institution at the Sugathadasa Stadium premises at a cost of 237 million rupees and to purchase necessary equipment for the institution, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
07. Establishment of the Policy Development Office
Sri Lankan economy should be restructured to achieve the next step of the economic development. It is necessary to review and strengthen the institutional framework which implements the development programmes. The proposal made by Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, to establish a Policy Development Office attached to the Prime Minister’s office to assist the Cabinet of Ministers in policy making, reviewing, coordination and implementation of policies, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
08. Construction of 03 three storied Buildings to provide accommodation for Cadet Officers of the Defence Services Command and Staff College
The Defence Services Command and Staff College established by the Act No 05 of 2008 is the highest defence services professional educational institute in Sri Lanka. The college plans and implements courses for staff officers in armed forces and public services, to train them in discharging their duties effectively. Few foreign officers are also enabled to follow a residential course as a means of mutual cooperation with friendly states. The proposal made by Hon. Ruwan Wijewardena, Acting Minister of Defence, to construct 03 Nos. of three storied buildings to provide quality accommodation for the said officers at a cost of Rs. 120 million, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
09. Reconstruction and relocation of buildings of Automobile Engineering Training Institute, affected by the construction of a new bridge over the Kelani River
The Japanese International Cooperation Agency has granted a loan amount of Japanese Yen 35,020 million for the project of constructing a new bridge over the Kelani River. The Automobile Engineering Training Institute which was established in a land acquired for this purpose needs to be relocated. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Lakshman Kiriella, Minister of University Education and Highways, to award the contract of reconstruction of the buildings for the said institution at a cost of Rs. 1,539.8 million at the Orugodawatta Vocational Training Authority premises, as recommended by the Cabinet Appointed Standing Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
10. Contract for Consultancy Services for implementation of Landslide Rectification measures for selected roads under the Climate Resilience Improvement Project
The proposal made by Hon.Lakshman Kiriella, Minister of University Education and Highways, to award the contract for consultancy services on researching, planning and supervision of constructions for implementation of the above project funded by the International Development Association at a cost of Rs. 146.17 million to the National Building Research Organization as recommended by the Cabinet Appointed Standing Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
11. Appropriation Bill for the Financial Year 2016
Estimates of revenue and expenditure have been prepared for the year 2016 as per the discussions held with relevant ministries, provincial councils and other parties, based on the total resources that can be obtained in the financial year 2016, government’s policies and priorities. Overall expenditure of 2016 is estimated as Rs. 3,138 billion and the estimated revenue is Rs. 1,789 billion inclusive of foreign grants. The proposal made by Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, Minister of Finance, to table the Appropriation Bill for the year 2016 in the parliament, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
12. Construction of temporary structures to house the High Court Complex, Colombo until the completion of its repair and renovation.
High Court Complex, Colombo constructed during the British Rule is now in a state of dilapidation. Therefore, there exists an urgent need to carry out an extensive renovation to these buildings. At present 08 High Courts, 03 Commercial High Courts, and 08 District Courts are housed in these buildings. A need arises to shift the old High Court Complex to a separate location on temporary basis so as to effect an extensive renovation. A land belonging to the B.C.C. Ceylon Co. Ltd has been selected for this purpose and 04 structures have already been constructed by the Sri Lanka Army. Infrastructure such as water, electricity, and sewage should be provided and sanitary facilities, car parks, access roads, prison cells, Registrar’s Office, Record Room, and Production rooms should be constructed. The proposal made by Hon. Dr. Wijedasa Rajapaksa, Minister of Justice, to award the construction work to Engineering Division of the Sri Lanka Army at a cost of Rs. 87.7 million, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
13. Construction of Four Storied Building Complex for the Ministry of Public Administration and Management
Establishment of several divisions that can be considered as Departments which are already functioning within this ministry premises will lead to a lot of administrative issues. Since the divisions of Accountants Services Board and Planning Services Board operated earlier under the Ministry of Finance have now been brought under the Ministry and those divisions have also been established within the Ministry premises, the ministry has encountered an issue regarding space at present. Hence, the proposal made by Hon. Ranjith Maddumabandara, Minister of Public Administration and Management, to build a four storied building in the ministry premises removing several temporary buildings, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
14. Review of the agreement on Colombo Port City Development project
The Cabinet approval has already been granted to extend the agreement between Colombo Port City Development Project Company and the Government of Sri Lanka from 06 months. The proposal made by Hon. Arjuna Ranatunga, Minister of Ports and Shipping, to appoint a committee consisting of senior officials headed by the Secretary to the Prime Minister to review and make recommendations to the Ministerial Committee on Economic Management, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
15. Preliminary Report on Total Blackout occurred on 27th September 2015
The explanation made by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) on the total blackout occurred on 27th September 2015, was presented to the Cabinet of Ministers by Hon. Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Minister of Power and Energy. He explained that the total failure has occurred due to system instability as a result of the low demand beyond the anticipated level, due to bad weather condition and long weekend and increase of power generation from mini hydro and wind plants. The Cabinet of Ministers have requested the Minister to appoint a committee of experts to conduct a fair investigation in this regard and to make recommendations for preventing such incidents in the future and to present its report within three weeks.
16. A New Model Village Programme ensuring land, housing and settlements
In consequence of the “Shelter for All” development programme based on participatory development implemented by the present government, many people aspiring to own a house of their own have been able to construct houses of higher value over the past few months by contributing their own labour and savings to the limited financial support extended by the government. However there are many families that were not benefitted by this programme. The Ministry of Housing and Construction has planned to implement a new model village programme to benefit the said community. Under this programme, it is intended to implement 38 housing projects and each project consists of 28 houses and a concessionary loan of Rs.250,000 will be provided for a house. Total cost is estimated as Rs. 240 million. The proposal made by Hon. Sajith Premadasa, Minister of Housing and Construction, to implement this programme, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
