02. Assigning two blocks of lands belonging to Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka on which Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) Embilipitiya Depot is being established

Embilipitiya Depot was established in a land which belonged to the River Valleys Development Board in 1975 and the said land had been brought under the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka in 1981. The ownership of the land has not yet been legally assigned to the SLTB. The proposal made by Hon. Nimal Siripala de Silva, Minister of Transport, to acquire the said two (02) blocks of lands to the SLTB, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

03. Establishment of the National Research Council as a statutory entity

Main objective of the National Research Council (NRC) is to assist the government to plan, coordinate, and facilitate research in science and technology so as to build a vibrant national scientific and technological community in the country. NRC was not established by a parliament act, but by an order issued by the then President with the powers vested in him by the constitution. The proposal made by Hon. Susil Premajayantha, Minister of Science, Technology and Research, to draft the legislations to establish the NRC as a statutory entity by a parliament act, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

04. Development Projects to be implemented in the Health Sector

The government has taken steps to establish a strengthened developed public health services system in the country by providing a free health service without considering their affordability of payment. Almost 100% of preventive services, 90-95% of inpatient care and about 50% of ambulatory care are financed publicly and provided through health facilities owned and operated by the government. The new government has given priority in improving the health sector and it is intended to allocate 3% from the GDP in 2016 related to the 1.8% in 2015. Accordingly, the proposal made by Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, to implement a number of projects related to curative services, hospital aids, specialists services, human resource development and improvement of infrastructure in 2016/2018 midterm budgetary framework, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

05. Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Agriculture of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation of Egypt for cooperation in agriculture and related fields

The agriculture has become a prominent sector in Egypt though it owns few cultivatable lands and consists of dry and arid climatic zones. Hence, their knowledge and technology used in agriculture could be adopted in cultivating in dry zones of Sri Lanka. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Duminda Dissanayake, Minister of Agriculture, to enter into the above MoU for exchange of information and experience regarding crop production, food processing, dissemination, sale of agricultural products, and use of machinery in agricultural activities, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

06. Implementation of the second phase of the pipe laying project from Andaragasyaya underground tank to Gonnoruwa as a solution to the acute drinking water problem in the Hambantota District

About 12000 persons of about 3000 families in Bandagiriya, Keliyapura, Ketenwewa, Gonnoruwa, Andarawewa, Kuda Indiwewa, and Hendilla areas of the Hambantota District are facing various economic, health and social issues with the acute drinking water deficiency in the area. As a permanent solution to this issue, the first phase of the project to provide 250 new water supplies with a cost of Rs. 465 million under the Ruhunupura Water supply Project is being implemented. The second phase of this project will benefit additional 11,272 persons with construction of a new pipeline system that facilitates the distribution of drinking water with 2,818 new water supplies from Andaragasyaya underground tank with a cost of Rs. 214.93 million. The proposal made by Hon. Sajith Premadasa, Minister of Housing and Construction, to implement the second phase of the above project, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

07. Awarding consultancy contract for procurement of Programme Management, Design and Supervision Consultant for the implementation of Mahaweli Water Security Investment Programme

The above programme funded by the Asian Development Bank intends to implement following projects as a measure to solve the water deficiency in North and Eastern Provinces.

(i).    Distribute the water of Mahaweli River through 65 km long Upper Elahera Canal Project through newly constructing North Central Province Canal Project from Kalugaga and Moragahakanda reservoirs.

(ii).     Supply of water to areas in the North-western Province by diverting excess water of Dambulu Oya and Nalanda Reservoir to Hakwatuna Oya Basin and Ihala Mi Oya Basin through the newly constructing North Western Province Canal Project.

(iii).    Raising of Minipe Anicut and rehabilitation of 74km long Minipe Left Bank Canal.

The proposal made by HE the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment to award consultancy contract for programme management, design and supervision as per the recommendations made by the Cabinet Appointed Discussion Committee, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

08. Development of infrastructures in Universities and Higher Education Institutes for the Degree Courses related to Technology Subject
        
From students who have sat for the Advanced Level Examination in Technology stream for the first time a batch of 1,800 students are scheduled to be admitted to Universities in 2016 and the required facilities should be developed in universities. The proposal made by Hon. Lakshman Kiriella, Minister of University Education and Highways, to allocate required allocations for construction of relevant buildings in universities of Colombo, Wayamba, Ruhuna, and Sri Jayawardenapura, and to purchase required equipment, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

09. Asian Development Bank funded Integrated Road Investment Programme – Award of contracts for four civil works contract packages in Sabaragamuwa Province

Above programme is implemented with the view of improving the road connectivity within selected rural centres by rehabilitating national, provincial, local authority and feeder roads. The proposal made by Hon. Lakshman Kiriella, Minister of University Education and Highways, to award four contracts for rehabilitation of 75km of rural roads in Kegalle District with a cost of Rs. 1,972 million and 255km of rural roads in Ratnapura District with a cost of Rs. 6,425 million as recommended by the Cabinet Appointed Standing Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

10. Preparation of Western Region Megapolis Master Plan

Collection of data, preparation of basic designs and legislations have been completed for the above purpose and the proposal made by Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka, Minister of Megapolis and Western Development, to obtain the service of local and foreign consultant experts for a period of further 04 months to proceed with the above project, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

11. Increasing Excise Duty on Cigarettes and Liquor

The proposal made by Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, Minister of Finance, to submit the gazette notification to the parliament, issued for the increase of excise duty on cigarettes, liquor and country made foreign liquor with effect from 03-10-2015 according to the section 03 of the Excise (Special Provisions) Act No 13 of 1989, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.