- Making regulations under the Employees’ Provident Fund Act No. 15 of 1958, to provide opportunity for members to withdraw benefits promptly and easily
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by H.E.the president MaithreepalaSirisena, upon request of Non-cabinet Minister of Labour and Trade Union, to make regulations under the Employees’ Provident Fund Act No. 15 of 1958to direct employers to inform the Department of Labour, within a specified period from the date of appointing an employee. And,to enable relevant employee to provide information directly to the Department of Labour, in the event that the employer fails to provide such information,.
2. Deploying lands,owned by the government institutions that cannot be used effectively for economic purposes, in accelerated forestation program of the Department of Forest Conservation.The cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by H.E. the president MaithreepalaSirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment to take over the lands owned by the Land Reform Commission and Sri Lanka cashew corporationto use in this project.
3. Bar on importing mechanical chainsaws, in order to prevent deforestation.The government implements various programs aiming to increase the forest cover of the island from 29.7% to 32% by 2030. More than 82,000 mechanical Chainsaws have been registered by now and accordingly the cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by H..E. the president, Maithreepala Sirisena in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment to take necessary steps under the Import and Export Control Act No 1 of 1969 to prohibit the import of mechanical Chainsaws.
4. Revising the Land (Restrictions on Alienation) Act No. 38 of 2014. The Land (Restrictions on Alienation) Act No. 38 of 2014 has been amended in 2018 and the restrictions were lifted. These amendments has provide provisions with respect to the land transactions after 01.04.2018 and has not provided provisions with respect to the Land acquisitions done before 01.04.2018. The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon. Mangala Samaraweera Minister of finance to draft bills to remove the prohibition on such land transactions.
5. Japanese aid program for Human Resources Development Scholarships . The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon. Mangala Samaraweera Minister of finance to enter in to an agreement with Japanese International Institute of coordination to obtain 263 Japanese yen for the second group of the third framework of this project.
6. Active Liability ManagementThe Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon. Mangala Samaraweera Minister of finance to present a proposal to the parliament to collect a sum not exceeding Rs. 480 billion, in accordance with the provisions of the Active Liability Management Act No.8 of 2018.
7. Establishment of a Task Force to monitor the management of Regional Plantation CompaniesThe Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon. Naween Dissanayake, Minister of Plantation Industries to establish a task force comprised of 10 experts in the field and to provide other necessary facilities for a period of three years in order to enhance the conditions of estate plantations.
8. Establishment of an Enterprise Resource Planning System for Coconut Development Authority.The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon. Naween Dissanayake, Minister of Plantation Industries to establish an enterprise resource planning system for Coconut Development Authority under an investment or Rs. 40 million.
9. Selecting a Solution Provider to introduce the Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) to the Public Procurement System The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon. Mangala Samaraweera Minister of finance to select the institute 'Theekshana', information technology department of the University of Colombo as the solution provider to introduce this system and enter into agreement.
10. Construction of a Building Complex with Advanced Level Classrooms and Laboratories for the National School with Multinational and Trilingual Education in Polonnaruwa.The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon. Akila Wiraj Kariyawasam, Minister of Education to award this contract to Central Engineering Services Private Ltd. for Rs.245.9 million, upon the recommendation of cabinet appointed standing procurement committee.
11. Annual Report 2018 presented in accordance with the Fiscal Management (Responsibility) Act.The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Finance to present the report containing updated information on Fiscal Performance in 2018 to the parliament.
12. Cooperation Agreement to provide opportunity for Sri Lankan Skilled Workers to Find Employment in JapanThe Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon. Hareen Fernando, Minister of Telecommunication, Foreign Employment and Sports to enter into a Cooperation Agreement with ministry of Justice, ministry of Foreign Affairs, ministry of Health ,Labour and Welfare, and the Agency of National Policies in Japan on Specified Skilled Workers.
13. Further expanding the relief packages provided for upgrading the tourism industry affected by the recent terrorist attacksThe Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon .Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Finance to expand relief as follows.·
grace period up to 31st March 2020, for the Working Capital Loan Scheme introduced for institutions and individuals engaged in tourism and to expand the coverage of the Debt Securities Fund, ·
providing a two month grace period up to June 30, 2019 for passenger bus owners·
Introducing the Working Capital Loan Scheme introduced for travel agencies and individuals to Music Bands. ·
Implementing "Sancharaka Poddo" concessionary loan scheme through Regional Development Banks to provide financial assistance that needed by small scale informal sector persons and institutions engaged in tourism related business.
