01. Establishment of a state of the art Centralized data management system for the elections Commission (Document No - 06)
Computerization of data of the electors'register has started in 1995. It has been proposed to create an automated electors' register in 2006 and by further developing this it has been identified that it is suitable to establish a Centralized Data Management System using modern technology. It intends to prevent the registration in several places, to reduce the high cost of maintaining separate databases in district level and to affirm the security of data. Accordingly, the proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, to establish the Centralized Data Management System, and to allocate the required funds within 2016, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
02. Anuradhapura North Water Supply Project (Document No - 13)
More Chronic Kidney Patients are reported than other districts in the island as 85% of people living in rural areas of the district obtain drinking water from unhealthy sources. Such patients as well as their dependents are highly affected. Hence it has become crucial to provide healthy drinking water through pipelines. The Wahalkada Water Supply Project which is to be implemented under the above project will benefit people living in Padawiya, Kebithigollewa, Horovpothana and Kahatagasdigiliya in the northern part of Anuradhapura. The proposal made by Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, to enter into a loan agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency to obtain a concessionary loan of 23,137 million Yen (Approximately Rs. 32,169 million) to implement the above project, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
03. Proceed with the Local Government Enhancement project (Document No - 14)
The Asian Development Bank has agreed to provide an additional loan amount of US$ 60 million on the success of the above project. These funds are expected to be utilized in projects related to provide safe drinking water as a solution to the Chronic Kidney Disease, improvement of divisional infrastructure and preliminary services, expedition of restructuring process of local government authorities and improving capacity of the same which are the priority tasks of the government. The proposal made by Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, to enter into an agreement with the Asian Development Bank to obtain the said loan to proceed with the above project, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
04. Preparation of Budget 2017 (Document No - 20)
The Budget 2017 is expected to be prepared under a zero based budgeting creating a performance culture based on performance of public expenses. It aims to achieve the targets of creating million occupations, increase of income, rural economic development, affirmation of land ownership, which are declared as the midterm targets of the government and concerning on achieving 17 sustainable development goals of the UN that should be achieved by 2030. Budget 2017 expects to reinstate the discipline of public finance with the principles of 'transparency' and 'accountability'. It would be possible to confront with the challenges of attracting foreign investment on news trends of global economy, and expanding foreign trade. Improvement of the economic growth by increasing public income and through useful expenses is a priority of the government. A broad
strategy has been planned by the government to address short-term imbalances and midterm challenges. Accordingly, the Midterm Macroeconomic Aim is to bring the budget deficit to 3.5 as a percentage of the GDP and public debt rate to 68. The proposal made by Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, Minister of Finance, to prepare the budget 2017 to achieve an economic growth of 6% to maintain a budget deficit of 4.7% of the GDP and a minimum inflation and unemployment affirming a public investment of 5% of the GDP, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
05. Relocation and improvement of Technical College in Anamaduwa (Document No - 21)
The Anamaduwa Technical College was established in 1993 under limited facilities in some buildings constructed under Gam Udawa programme. At present about 250 students are being enrolled annually to follow 13 training courses of NVQ 3, 4, and 5 levels. A gradual increase in applications for enrolment could be observed but due to lack of facilities including classrooms, work stations it is impossible to provide the opportunity of following courses for more students. Hence, it has been identified that it is suitable to relocate this Technical College to provide more opportunities for the youth in Anamaduwa area. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Skills Development and Vocational Training, to relocate the Technical College in a land of 04 acres in Wadakkarawewa area adjacent to Chilaw – Nawagattegama main road with all necessary infrastructure, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
06. Regulation of Beach Seining (Document No - 24)
The beach seining has contributed a 40% of the national fisheries production in 1950s but due to various reasons but at present it has been reduced. The method used in the period of smooth sea which needs high force of labour and it creates employment opportunities for coastal residents. However, as it catches all fish without any selection it is not considered as an environmental friendly method. Regulations were enforced on beach seining in 1984 and it has become a timely need to review them. The proposal made by Hon. Mahinda Amaraweera, Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development, to appoint a Committee of Intellectuals to prepare a report with recommendations on beach seining for inquire into and resolve the issues faced by the beach seining, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
07. State Wesak Festival - 2017 (Document No - 25)
The Cabinet of Ministers has granted the approval to hold the State Wesak Festival in 2017 which marks the 2561st Buddhist Year at Sri Arahath Maliyadewa Raja Maha Viharaya in Wattarama and to declare the week which the Wesak Full Moon Day falls as the Wesak Week, and to implement various programmes in district and divisional level in line with the Wesak Festival.
08. Establishment of a Performing Arts Training Institution, affiliated to the Sri Dalada Maligawa, At Pallekele for the protection of traditional up-country dancing and cultural heritage (Document No - 26)
Up-country dancing has been recognized by the world for a long time and it is a pride to Sri Lankan identity and dignity. The lack of interest of youth to this traditional art has made a deficit in its performers. The Diyawadana Nilame of Sri Dalada Maligawa has made a proposal to establish a Performance Arts Training Institution to protect traditional dancing and cultural heritages with the view of encouraging, training and development and creating related employment. The Government of India has agreed to provide a grant of Rs. 120 million for this purpose. The proposal made by Hon. Dr. Wijayadasa Rajapaksa, Minister of Buddhasasana, to establish the above said institution at the premises of International Buddhist Centre, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
09. Amend the existing regulations on standards of training, certification, and watch keeping for seafarers (STCW 1978) (Document No - 28)
Aforesaid regulations are published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 1818/37 and dated 12.07.2013 by the Merchant Shipping Secretariat. The proposal made by Hon. Arjuna Ranatunga, Minister of Ports and Shipping, to amend the said regulations according to the guidance of International Maritime Organization and to suit present day needs, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
10. Resettlement of all Internally Displaced Persons who resides in welfare camps (Document No - 29)
H.E. the President has emphasised the need of resettling all IDPs immediately. It is necessary to implement a priority housing project in this regard. At present 971 families reside in 31 welfare centres and 641 families out of them are landless families. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. D.M. Swaminathan, Minister of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs, to implement an expedited housing project in this regard at a cost of Rs. 971 million, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
11. Construction of an accommodation building at Kaluthara Police College (Document No - 30)
The Police College, Kaluthara undertakes training programmes for police officers covering all the police stations in the country. Many of its accommodation buildings are older than 100 years and are in decayed status raising an issue in providing accommodation for trainee officers. Hence, the proposal made by Hon. Sagala Ratnayake, Minister of Law and Order and Southern Development, to construct a new accommodation building for the Kaluthara Police College at a cost of Rs. 199.69 million, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
12. Leadership training Programme for Technical, Vocational education and training centre managers in Singapore (Document No - 33)
The Temasek Foundation has agreed to provide a grant of 280,840 Singapore Dollars to conduct the above programme in Singapore for a period of two weeks.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Ministry of Skills Development and Vocational Training and the ITE Education Services in Singapore, which the programme is conducting, during the official visit of the Hon. Prime Minister in Singapore.
13. Monthly Wage Increment of Rs. 2,500 for plantation sector employees proposed by the government (Document No - 37)
The Rs. 2500 wage increment proposed for the private sector should also be applied for the employees in plantation companies. Considering the economical difficulties faced by provincial plantation companies due to the decrease of tea price in world market, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Management has recommended to provide a financial concession to those companies for payment if the increment. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, Minister of Finance, to issue treasury bonds to facilitate plantation companies to obtain loans from public banks through Sri Lanka Tea Board, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
14. Technical assistance loan from the Asian Development Bank for the proposed transport project preparatory facility (Document No - 38)
Above projects expects to assist feasibility studies, detailed designs, and procurement documents preparation and implementation of transport projects. The proposal made by Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, to hold discussions with the Asian Development Bank to obtain a technical assistance loan of US$ 24.42 million for the above project, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
15. Obtaining a loan for the 3rd phase of the Central Expressway and the elevated road from Kelani Bridge to Rajagiriya (Document No - 39)
Above constructions are identified as priority development projects of the government. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Management has recommended obtaining loan assistance from the Tokyo – Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd for in this regard. The proposal made by Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, to proceed with its activities, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
16. Payment of compensation for houses damaged by explosion occurred in Salawa Ammunition dump in Sithawaka Divisional Secretary Division in Colombo District on 05-06- 2016 (Document No - 41)
The Government Valuation Department has completed the valuation of damages of houses and premises due to the explosion. The proposal made by Hon. Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Minister of Disaster Management, to expedite the payment of compensations based on the said valuation, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
