1.Implementing the projects related to the prevention of kidney disease (Document No.05)
With the objective of providing the clinical and care services with more facilities to the patients who suffer from kidney diseases, the approval was given by the Cabinet of Ministers earlier to establish the Anuradhapura Methsiri Sevana Relief Care and blood dialysis centres and Girandurukotte Social Welfare Economic Empowerment Education and Information Centre on Kidney disease affiliated to Kandy General Hospital. Accordingly the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by H.E. the President Maithreepala Sirisena to allocate the provisions to provide facilities including the medical equipments required to implement such projects in 2019 on wards and to construct an Information and Research Centre affiliated to the University of Kelaniya on kidney disease for the purpose of furthermore execution of the prevention of kidney disease and to allocate provisions required for the research project & treatment promotion programme on the usage of indigenous medical treatments for the kidney disease and research project, which is conducted in association with the Kandy General Hospital and Molecular and Cell Biology Institution, Singapore.
2.Taking Over the lands belonging to Kandakadu and Thrikonamaduwa Farms to the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka again for agribusiness development affairs (Document No. 08)
The Cabinet of Minister previously decided to develop the lands belonging to Kandakadu and Thrikonamaduwa Farms in Polonnaruwa District in agricultural means under the Pibidemu Polonnaruwa District Development programme. Accordingly the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by H.E. the President Maithreepala Sirisena, as the Minister of Mahaweli Development & Environment to take over the lands in extend of 3,415 Hectares, which was not developed before, belonging to the Kandakadu and Thrikonamaduwa Farms enabling to rapidly develop such lands as agribusiness associated with agricultural and livestock management.
3.Economic Inquiry of 2018 (Document No. 13)
The Cabinet of Ministers considered the matters presented by Hon. Mahinda Rakapaksaha, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs regarding the present situation of the country’s economy, condition of the liabilities which have been agreed and programmes conducted recently for improving economic situation of the country
4. Providing facilities to the devotees who visit, worship and offer prayers to the Sabarimala Ayyappan sacred place (Document No 27)
Sabarimala Ayyappan is a Hindu temple complex located at the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala, India and Sri Lankan Hindu devotees visit, worship and offer prayers to this sacred place yearly at the end of December and in the beginning of January. In subsequence, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon. Douglas Devananda , Minister of Resettlement, Rehabilitation, Northern Development, & Hindu Religious Affairs to provide necessary facilities including the establishment of a temporary unit in the High Commission of Sri Lanka in India to the devotees who visit this sacred place.
5.Memorandum Of Understanding on prevention of human trafficking (Document No.27)
National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force for the prevention of trafficking in persons was established in 2010 and said Task force has implemented various programmes for preventing the human trafficking. Accordingly, it has been planned to implement the training programmes focusing the community control police officers to prevent the human trafficking. Subsequently, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon. Susil Premajayantha, Minister Public Administration, Home Affairs and Justice to enter into tripartite Memorandum of Understanding among the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs and Justice, LIFE Organization and British High Commission in Sri Lanka.
6.Preparing a national market policy (Document No. 28)
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon. Bandula Gunawardana Minister of International Trade and Investment Promotion to appoint a committee comprising of experts in the government and private sector with sufficient qualifications to prepare a national market policy for Sri Lanka.
7. Revenue Administration and Management Data Processing System operating in the Department of Inland Revenue (document No 30)
With the enactment of the New Inland Revenue Act No 24 of 2017, Revenue Administration and Management Data Processing System operating in the Department of Inland Revenue has to be restructured for some tax types. The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksha to accomplish this software restructuring by the original contractor institution of this database.
8.Parallel roads for the houses located at a side of Matara – Beliatta Railway (Document No.32)
The constructions of Matara-Beliatta Railway Project will be completed soon. It is expected to implement train transport operations covering whole coastal railway from Colombo to Beliatta from 2019. It has been identified the necessity of constructing roads parallel to the railway to provide access ways for the occupants in the houses located at the side of Matara-Beliatta Railway. Therefore the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon. Nimal Siripala De Silva, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to construct 54 roads ( full length 12.95 km) under the supervision of Road Development Authority.
9.Commencement of Procurement Process for Policy Framework for the constructions of 150 MWt Sola Power plants and 60 MWt Wind Power Plants. (document No 33)
According to Sri Lanka Electricity Generation Plan, 1/3 of the entire necessity is to be generated by Non traditional and alternative renewable Energy Sources by 2030. Accordingly the cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Dr. Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Minister of Power and Renewable Energy to implement procurement process in accordance with the policy framework to construct 60 Mwt Wind Power Plants and150 Mwt Sola Power Plants which should be connected to the power system by 2020, under 2018 – 2037 Long Term Generation Expansion Plan prepared by the Electricity Board.
10.Rural Bridge Constructions (document No.34)
The Government has planned to construct 4,000 bridges improving the transport facilities of villages in difficult areas, benefiting the villagers. In accordance with the recommendation of cabinet appointed Negotiation Committee on the proposals received from 09 provinces, to construct 175 bridges different in size, the cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon. Fizar Mushtapa Minister of Provincial Council, Local Government and Sports to award this contract to Cleveland Bridge UK Limited for Sterling Pound 37.69 million.
11.Improvement of Financial Facilities for the promotion of Agriculture and and small and Medium scale Enterprises. (document No. 40)
The Government has identified the necessity of setting up a transparent and simple wide based tax management system with less tax ratio to promote local enterprises such as small and medium scale enterprise sector, professional and other services and Agriculture activities. Accordingly the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksha in his capacity as the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs to proceed to take following actions which could be taken immediately.
•Exemption of entrepreneurs specially small scale entrepreneurs gain income from any agriculture earnings such as Tea, Spices, Coconut, Rubber , Paddy, Fruit, Vegetables for a period of 5 years.
•Reduction of the tax ratio on profits gained from locally processed agricultural products from 28% to 14%.
•As a relief to small scale entrepreneurs, increment of the income boundary related to existing 0.5% Economic Service charge from 12.5 million to 50 million per quarter.
• Concern the cost of using renewable sources, including the installation of Solar Power Panels for Tea, Coconut, Rubber and other Agricultural Processing Factories, as a deductible expense while calculating the taxable profit.
• Implementation of a program prepared by the treasury supporting to regenerate the enterprises, owned by small and medium scale entrepreneurs who has failed to refund loans obtained from banks and financial institutions, enabling them to access financial facilities.
• Steps have been taken to reduce the price of some goods and fuel, in order to reduce the cost of living of low-income families. Take necessary steps to reduce the price of the other essential goods.
12.Vote on Account 2019 (Document No. 41)
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal to present a Vote on Account in order to secure provisions for 2019 first quarter. Accordingly the cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksha, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs to present a proposal for entire expenditure of Rs. 1,735 billion (Vote on Account). In detail Rs.760 million for the continue process of Government Public Services, Rs. 970 billion for the expenditures previously authorized by different laws, Rs. 05 billion for Government Advance Account.
13.Appointing Experienced and Qualified professionals as Statutory Board Chairpersons and Director Board Members (document No 43)
The Government has put emphasis on appointing experienced and qualified professionals as Chairpersons and Director Board Members, to accomplish the objectives and goals of Statutory Boards. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by H.E. the president Maithreepala Sirisena to appoint a committee chaired by the presidential secretary to present recommendations, based on the criteria approved earlier by the Cabinet of Ministers enabling respective ministers to appoint degree holders of Sri Lankan or recognized foreign universities, or persons possess of recognized professional qualifications along with long professional experience in respective field, excluding the Ex-Officio of said Director Boards.
