1. Continuous implementation of Micro Finance Credit Facility Program for the People of
Northern and North Central Provinces who are in debt.
A loan scheme has been implemented through Co-operative Rural Banks and Thrift and
Credit Co-operative Societies to provide relief to low income people who have obtained
loans from various micro finance institutions. Social Security Fund, for the Sri Lankans
employed in foreign countries. The Treasury has released Rs. 542 million and it operates
as a revolving fund.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon. Prime Minister in his
capacity as the Minister of Finance, Economy and Policy Development to continue the
loan program, increasing the maximum credit limit to Rs.60,000/- per one person.
2. A Social Security Fund for Sri Lankan Foreign Employees.
The National Policy Framework “Vistas of Prosperity and Splendor” proposes initiating a
contributory pension for Sri Lankans employed overseas. The Cabinet of Ministers
approved the proposal presented by Hon. Minister of Skill Development, Employment
and Labour Relations to appoint a committee of experts to prepare the Preliminary Bill
for the establishment of Contributory Social Security Fund for workers employed
overseas.
3. Obtaining International Maritime Satellite (INMARSAT) Service (Point of Service
Activation-PSA) which is provided by the Sri Lanka Telecom for monitoring and
supervising Fishing vessels.
1500 registered multi-day trawlers have been provided with 1,500 transponders with
government intervention. The contract for providing satellite services for these
Transponders purpose has already expired. The Cabinet of Ministers approved the
proposal presented by Hon. Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic Resources to allocate Rs. 13.5
million for continuous access to satellite services through Telecom.
4. St. Jude Global Alliance’s Medical Institute Membership Agreement between St, Jude
Children’s Research Hospital and the secretary to the Ministry of Health and
Indigenous Medicine.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon. Minister of Health
and Indigenous Medicine to enter in to a Memorandum of Understanding with St. Jude
Global Alliance’s Medical Institute to Join as a member organization.
5. Ongoing Constructions of Amaradewa Asapuwa
The contract had been canceled as the construction work of the Amaradeva Asapuwa
construction project had not met the expected efficiency. The Cabinet of Ministers
approved the proposal presented by Hon. Minister of Information and Mass Media to
select an appropriate institution through Government Formal Procurement Process to
resume the respective constructions efficiently.
6. Increase of the amount paid for Children who are entitled to university admission as
Mahapola Scholarship and Expansion of Mahapola Scholarship Scheme St. Jude Global
Alliance’s Medical Institute to join as a member organization.
The Mahapola Scholarship scheme commences in 1982 and provides scholarships for
over 15,000 students. The Mahapola Scholarship scheme commences in 1982 and
provides scholarships for about 15,000 out of 30000 students who get university
admissions. The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon. Minister
of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation to implement some special strategic
programs to increase the present fund Rs. (10.5 billion) up to Rs. 20 billion by 2025, in
order to increase the number of scholarships to 20000 and to increase the monthly
grant.
7. Report on non-enrollment of students the interest free scholarship scheme as expected
and students left the course
The interest free student loan scheme is being implemented from 2017 for providing
opportunity to follow a government recognized degree program at a non-governmental
higher education institute. 3731 students have been provided this loan under three
stages. 202 students have left the program due to various issues. The Cabinet of
Ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon. Minister of Higher Education,
Technology and Innovation in relation with the expansion of this program to provide
relief to students who are facing financial difficulties and to prioritize the courses that
create more jobs in the future.
8. INFORTECH - Technology and innovations Exhibition
The cabinet of ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon. Minister of Higher
Education, Technology and Innovation to hold an exhibition titled “INNOTECH 2020” -
Technology and Innovation Exhibition from 11 th to 15 th March 2020 with the purpose of
promoting scientific literacy and exhibiting the inventions of the institutions and
university research and development sections under the ministry of Higher Education,
Technology and Innovations.
9. “ Hela Suwaya” Non Toxic Traditional Paddy Cultivation
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon. Minister of
Mahaweli, Agriculture, Irrigation and Rural Development to focus 2000 farmers using
10,000 acres in Anuradhapura Rajangana area for “Hela Suwaya” Paddy cultivation as a
pilot project.
10. Improvement of selected highway sections in National Highways using the remaining
funds of L.B.E.F
The Road Development Authority has implemented a road rehabilitation project utilizing
the loans obtained from local banks on treasury guarantees since 2011. The project will
be carried out in two phases and it is estimated that around Rs. 1580 million will be
remained from the loans approved. Accordingly, the cabinet of Ministers approved the
proposal presented by Hon. Minister of Roads and Highways to utilize this amount to
develop the alternative roads which need immediate upgrade under the program of
“Implementing a 100,000 km alternative road network” already approved by the
Cabinet.
11. Payment of Self Relocation Allowance to the parties affected by the land acquisition for
Southern Expressway Extension Project
A Self Relocation Allowance of Rs. 150,000/- was paid for affected people of Southern
Expressway Extension Project, before 18 th November 2016. Then this allowance has
been amended as Rs.5000,000/-. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the
proposal presented by Hon. Minister of Roads and Highways for the payment of
Relocation allowance up to Rs. 500,000/- concerning 175 land owners affected by land
acquisition before 18 th November 2016.
12. Establishment of One Stop Shop Service Centers to provide services related to Micro,
Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in one place.
Micro and Small Enterprises (SMEs) are estimated to contribute 52% to the country's
GDP and provide livelihood to more than 3 million people. That is about 45% of the
country's total employment. Because of the prevailing Institutional methodology for
providing business services, these entrepreneurs appear to be inconvenienced by the
fact that the same work is carried out by different agencies and it takes a lot of time.
Accordingly, the cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon. Minister
of Small and Medium Scale Business and Enterprise Development to establish 25 Service
centers based on 25 districts in the country, operate these service centers in
collaboration with other relevant government agencies and other relevant parties and
to carry out the management activities by the Governing Body.
13. “Obata Ratak- Ratata Hetak – A Clean Workplace - a Working Country” implementing a
Program of rendering free service
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon. Minister of Power &
Energy and Transport Services Management to implement a one day “Sramadana
Program” on the 28 th of February 2020 with the participation of welfare societies and
productivity groups of Ceylon Transport Board, Railway Department, Electricity Board,
Petroleum Corporation and other institutions under the Ministry of Power and Energy
and the Ministry of Transport Services Management and to conduct this program once
every three months.
14. Government Land Management Program
The cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Hon. Minister of Land and
Land Development to implement the following proposals presented by the committee
appointed on cabinet decision dated 19.12.2019.
Writing off the fine of the interest recoverable from the rentees
Awarding a concessionary period of one year for the rentees to pay the rent in arrears.
Giving opportunity for them to pay the annual rental in 04 quarters
Giving a 10% discount to the rentees who pay the annual rental before the end of the
first month of the rental
Facilitate to pay the rental through means / methods such as post offices, credit cards,
mobile apps etc.
15. Extending the tourism development tax payment suspension period for the tourism
establishments registered under Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority.
A concessionary period of one year from 01 st January 2020 has been given for the
payment of tourism development tax payable from 31 st December 2019 by the tourist
institutions registered with Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority. However, since
the expected increased number of tourist arrival has not been experienced after the Ester
day attack, it is apparent that the relevant concessionary period is suitable to be extended.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal submitted by the Minister of
Tourism and Civil Aviation for extending the concessionary period for another four
months up to 30 th April 2020 and to recover the unpaid tourism development tax
applicable to the period to be recovered in 20 equal instalments with effect from 01 st May
2020.
16. Programme to attract Aviation Companies to both Mattala Rajapaksha
International Airport and Colombo, Rathmalana International Airports
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the following proposals submitted by the
Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation for promoting the airports of Mattala Rajapaksha
International Airport and Colombo, Rathmalana International Airport for inauguration of
air tours in the international permanent time table once again and inauguration of regional
operations of the airports respectively.
17. Awarding the contract of enhancement, mechanical and electric work of Water
Refinery in Girandurukotte under the local government upgrading sectorial project
implemented under the grants of the Asian Development Bank
Provisions of United States Dollars 46.78 million has been granted under the local
government upgrading sectorial project implemented under the grants of the Asian
Development Bank has been allocated for enhancing water supply schemes in the Uva,
North Central, Central and North Western provinces where people suffering from kidney
diseases are. Accordingly, the proposal tabled by the Minister of Public Administration,
Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government was approved by the Cabinet
of Ministers for awarding the contract of enhancement, mechanical and electric work of
Water Refinery in Girandurukotte to a contracted sum of Rupees 330.10 million to Wasiri
Savinda Joint Venture, Polgasowita, Kahathuduwa subject to the recommendations of the
procurement committee appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers.
18. Obtaining ‘Kurumbettiya’ multi – purpose bicycles with the carriage for
transportation of waste / garbage.
The amount of garbage disposed to the environment due to the increase of population
density as well as the present consumption pattern has been increased. At present,
collection of garbage is carried out by small tractors in the areas where compactor or
large tractors cannot reach. A new bicycle named ‘Kurumbettiya’ with a capacity of 250
– 300 kilograms for bearing garbage, minimum environmental impact and accessible
even to sub – ways without difficulty has been manufactured by a local new inventor
company Nation Eye (Pvt.) Company. It has been proposed to buy 10 such bicycles and
distribute them among several local government bodies so that the success can be judged
as a pilot project whereas the other local government bodies too can be distributed with
these bicycles based on the success of the pilot project. Accordingly, the proposal
submitted by the Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government Authorities for
procurement of 10 of these multi – purpose bicycles at a price of Rupees 180,000.00 each
for a total amount of Rupees 1.8 million and distribute among the local government
authorities where religious and ancient monuments are situated was approved by the
Cabinet of Ministers.
19. Continuation of ‘Suraksha’ Student Insurance Scheme
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the proposal submitted by the Minister of
Education for formalizing and further implementation of the ‘Suraksha’ Insurance
scheme implemented at present covering all the school children in the age group from 5
to 19 year with the objective of ensuring the creation of a healthy child population as well
as the schooling of all the children.
20. Re – initiation of Kurunchthivu (Elephant Pass – North) Salten under Government
– Private Partnership.
Although the Cabinet of Ministers has granted their permission to re – inaugurate the
production and monitoring work of Kurunchthivu (Elephant Pass – North) Salten which
was halted due to the war existed during the past years, the process has not been a reality
up to now. The Cabinet of Ministers granted permission for the proposal submitted by the
Minister of Industries and Supply Management for the inauguration and implementation
the activities of the said salten as a government – private partnership project implemented
between the Manthai Salt Limited and an investor selected following the formal
methodology.
21. Converting the railway from Kandy to Peradeniya to a double line.
The double line constructed parallel to the existing Kandy – Peradeniya railway is
approximately 6.0 kilometers while it is being constructed from Kandy to Getambe
railway cross road. The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal submitted by the
Minister of Transport and Transport Services Management for the construction of an
additional railway with an enhanced signal system with the provisions of the consolidated
fund parallel to the existing railway between Getambe railway cross road and Sarasavi
Uyana with the objective of further minimizing the travelling period and to construct a
railway bridge across Mahaveli river at 00 miles and 37 chains.
22. Entering into a long term contract for importing 1,137,500 barrels of diesel
(maximum sulphur percentage 0.05) and 262,500 barrels of diesel (maximum
sulphur percentage 0.001) within a period of eight months from 01.04.2020 to
30.11.2020
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal submitted by the Minister of Electricity
and Power for awarding the contract of importing 1,137,500 barrels of diesel (maximum
sulphur percentage 0.05) and 262,500 barrels of diesel (maximum sulphur percentage
0.001) within a period of eight months from 01.04.2020 to 30.11.2020 to M/s Petrochina
Intenational Pte. Ltd., as per the recommendation of the Special Standing Procurement
Committee appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers.
23. Increasing the income of farmers growing Big Onion through increasing the
government minimum certified price for Big Onion.
It has been proposed by the ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour’ to implement a new
programme for production of crops such as big onions and to convert the extreme limits
of foreign exchange spent for the import of such crops to be an income of the local
farmers cultivating those crops.
It has been identified that an appropriate programme for utilizing the lands for those
crops with the highest productivity should be essentially required while escalating the
government certified price for big onions for encouraging them by providing a fair price
for farmers’ harvest. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal
submitted by the Hon. Prime Minister as the Minister of Finance, Economic and Policy
Development for increasing the minimum certified price given for a kilo of big onion at
present from Rs. 60/- to Rs. 80/- and to launch an accelerated special programme by the
Ministry of Mahaveli, Agriculture, Irrigation and Rural Development for escalating the
production by enhancing the productivity of big onion crops.
24. Supplementary Report of the Committee appointed for reviewing the Composite
Development Agreement of Millennium Challenge Cooperation (MCC)
A review committee headed by Professor Lalithasiri Gunaruwan was appointed for
submitting recommendations to the government on the actions to be taken after studying
in relevant to the Millennium Challenge Cooperation (MCC) as per a decision taken by
the Cabinet of Ministers on the 18 th December 2019. The said Committee has submitted a
supplementary report to the Hon. Prime Minister and the report pointed out that there are
features that may threaten the national, social and economic welfare of Sri Lanka within
certain projects proposed under this programme although the Millennium Challenge
Cooperation (MCC) proposal is capable of supplying financial resources required for the
investments that wipe out the fundamental economic constrains in Sri Lanka suppressed
due to lack of capital resources and being debt – ridden nation without increasing the
foreign credit bondage. The report further pointed out there were clauses and conditions
that would affect negatively to the national goals / objectives, sovereignty as well as the
national security along with sections and provisions that would be unfavourable for the
Constitution of Sri Lanka and the legal framework of the country included in the
proposed composite agreement and the agreement of the programme implementation as
well as in the draft cooperate statute of the proposed company. Therefore, the Committee
has pointed out that it is essential to apply appropriate corrections as well as suitable
amendments and after that it is suitable to obtain concurrence of the citizens as well as
the approval of the Parliament. The Hon. Prime Minister having submitted the
supplementary report of the Committee for the information of the Cabinet of Ministers,
the Cabinet of Ministers took the particulars along with the fundamental decisions and
recommendations into considerations.
25. Awarding the contract for changing the software of the Revenue Administration
Management Information System (RAMIS 2.0) – Section B operated in the
Department of Inland Revenue.
The Department of Inland Revenue utilizes the RAMIS programme from year 2016 for
performing the fundamental activities of the tax administration process while it enables
the state banks and other state institutions to link with the Department of Inland Revenue
through internet services and providing interfaces. Considering the necessity of
implementing the new inland revenue act with immediate effect, the proposal submitted
by the Hon. Prime Minister as the Minister of Finance, Economic and Policy
Development for awarding the contract for changing the part of the software RAMIS 2.0
renovated as RAMIS 2.0 – B for a cost of Singapore Dollars 15,534,364 to Singapore
Cooperation Enterprise (SCE), as per the recommendations of the discussion negotiation
committee appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers was approved by the Cabinet of
Ministers.
26. The actions taken by the Sri Lankan diplomatic missions in regard to the security
and welfare of the Sri Lankans living in Europe, Middle East and Eastern Asian
region amidst the outbreak of New Corona Virus (COVID – 19)
The deadly New Corona Virus have been spread throughout 44 countries as an epidemic
infecting more than 80,000 people and taking more than 2,700 lives by now. The acting
Minister of Foreign Relation has informed that no information has been received that Sri
Lankans living in those countries have been infected so far while tabling the actions so
far taken by Sri Lankan missions in those countries in regard to their security and
welfare. Whereas the Cabinet of Ministers took the information into consideration
furnished by the Hon Minister that the Ministry of Foreign Relations that close
supervision is continuously in operation with regard to the situation probable to be
erupted so that immediate actions could be taken in the connection.
27. Eradicating the anomalies in the salaries of Teacher – Principal Services.
Considering the issues in the salaries and service conditions in all the professionals in the
teachers’, Principals’ and other educational services for an extended time, the policy
declaration of ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour’ propose the requirement of
preparation of a suitable salary method by amalgamating all the services including Sri
Lanka Teachers’ Service through preparation of an appropriate salary and services
minute. Although the Cabinet of Ministers already have taken a policy decision to act
accordingly, the Minister of Education tabled an extended explanation to the Cabinet of
Ministers on the circumstances emerged due to the prevailing salary anomalies in the
teacher – Principal services.
His Excellency the President has established a national salaries commission for
preparation of a new salary policy to enable eradication of anomalies existing by studying
the salaries in the state sector and, the Government intends to implement the
recommendations of the said Commission across the upcoming budget of the
Government. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers decided to take measures to remove the
salary anomalies prevailing at present in Teacher – Principal services through the
recommendations tabled b
