02. Construction of an Additional Bui1diig for the Office of the Leader of the Opposition in the same premises that presently houses his office - Cabinet approval has already been granted for the construction of an additional building for the Office of the Leader of the Opposition in the premises of No.30, Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha, Colombo 07, presently used as his Colombo Office. The proposal made by Hon. D.M. Jayaratna, the Prime Minister, to increase the total cost estimate of the project from Rs.28,400,000.00 to Rs.56,280,036.49 due to price escalations etc., was approved by the Cabinet.
03. Consolidations in the Banking Sector - - Cabinet approval has already been granted to convert the DFCC Bank as a Company incorporated under the Companies Act, No.07 of 2007 to facilitate the proposed merger of DFCC Bank, DFCC Vardhana Bank and NDB Bank as announced in the Budget proposals for 2014. The proposal made by H.E. the President, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance and Planning, to publish the draft Bill prepared for the purpose in keeping with the recommendations of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Legislation, in the Government Gazette and thereafter, submit it to Parliament, was approved by the Cabinet.
04. Implementation of 22 Water Supply Projects with funding secured from Local Banks for the Enhancement of Pipe Borne Water Supply Service coverage by the National Water Supply & Drainage Board (NWSDB) on priority basis - - the Ministry of Water Supply and Drainage has drawn up an accelerated programme for the implementation of 22 water supply projects with local bank financing, covering all Provinces of the country and it is expected to provide safe drinking water to a population of 150,000 by March 2015. The proposal made by Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena, Minister of Water Supply and Drainage, to proceed with the relevant activities, was approved by the Cabinet.
05. Bilateral Agreement between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Belarus - - the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters has already been signed by the Ministers of External Affairs of both countries. The Treaty provides for parties of both countries to grant each other mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, including investigations, prosecutions, trials and resulting proceedings. Accordingly, an Order has been made by the Minister of Justice bringing into operation, the provisions of the Agreement. The proposal made by Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Minister of Justice, to submit the Order to Parliament for approval, was approved by the Cabinet.
06 Establishment of Centre of Excellence on Ocean Sciences and Environment - - the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) currently comprises of 20 Member States and it aims to provide maximum opportunities to develop shared interests and reap mutual benefits and exchange information on trade and investment and also provide opportunities to expand intra-regional trade among countries in the group. The proposal made by Hon. (Prof.) G.L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs, to establish the IORA Centre of Excellence on Ocean Sciences and Environment in Sri Lanka in consultation and collaboration with local stakeholders, the IORA Secretariat and IORA Member States and to proceed with the related activities, was approved by the Cabinet.
07. Making Regulations on Registration and keeping of Tamed Elephants - - legal provisions to ensure protection of elephants in Sri Lanka in their natural habitats and outside under domestic conditions have been included in Part II of the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance and the legal protection of tamed elephants have been further strengthened by Regulations published in the Gazette Extraordinary Notification No.662/4 dated 1991-05-14. The proposal made by Hon. Gamini Vijith Vijayamuni Zoysa, Minister of Wildlife Resources Conservation, to update the existing regulations to ensure the welfare of tamed elephants and conservation of the elephant population in Sri Lanka and to proceed with the activities related thereto, was approved by the Cabinet.
08. Sri Lanka’s position in the United Nations e-Government Development Index in 2014 - - Sri Lanka has risen to the 74th position in 2014 out of 192 countries in the United Nations e-Government Development Index and is among the leading countries in the world engaged in implementing an e-Government Agenda. This index was derived from a survey conducted by the United Nations to assess the status of the e-Government of its member countries. According to the 2014 Report, Sri Lanka has gained first place in South Asia and India is 44 places behind Sri Lanka. This information,was provided to the Cabinet by Hon. Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Minister of Telecommunication and Information Technology.
09. Establishment of a National Science Centre - - Construction of Technology Innovation Centre --- - the Urban Develqpment Authority has allocated 48 acres of land at Pitipana, Homagama for the establishment of the Nano Technology Science Park and General Treasury has allocated a sum of Rs.300 million to implement the programme for the establishment of the National Science Centre. The total estimated cost of the project is Rs. 419 million and it is expected to implement it in two stages in 2014 and 2015. The proposal made by H.E. the President, in his capacity as the Minister of Defence and Urban Development, to award the contract to the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB), subject to approval of rates in the Estimate by the Standing Technical Committee of the Ministry of Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities, was approved by the Cabinet.
10. Implementation of Gin-Nilwala Diversion Project - the following benefits will be accrued with the implementation of the above project which was designed after a lengthy consultative process and minimizing the number of people that will be affected in the area:
* provision of drinking water to Pitabeddara, Athuraliya, Weligama, Mulatiyana, Malimbada, Thihagoda, Dickwella and Kirinda-Puhulwela Divisional Secretaries’ Divisions in Matara District;
* provision of drinking water to Katuwana, Okkawela, Beliatta, Angunukolapelessa, Sooriyawewa, Hambantota Town and Ambalantota areas inHambantota District;
* provision of water for industries and commercial agriculture in Greater Hambantota area;
* Assurance of water for existing cultivated lands during both Yala and Maha Season and provision of water for 8500 ha of new land for agriculture in Hambantota District; and
* Increase of agricultural productivity and positive environmental benefits due to increased ground water level in Hambantota District.
The proposal made by Hon. Nimal Siripala De Silva, Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management, to proceed with the related activities, was approved by the Cabinet.
11.. Improvement of Health Facilities at Polonnaruwa and Welikanda Hospitals - -- the proposal made by Hon. Maithripala Sirisena, Minister of Health, to proceed with the related activities of the following construction projects at the Polonnaruwa and Welikanda Hospitals and to entrust the construction works to the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB), was approved by the Cabinet:
Polonnaruwa General Hospital
- * construction of waiting room with facilities for out patients at a cost of Rs. 42,607,099.55;
- * construction of new quartes for Specialist Medical Officers and Medical Officers at a cost of Rs199,527,717.76; and
- * renovation of existing Medical Officers’ quarters at a cost of Rs. 37,132,813.18.
- Welikanda District Hospital
- * construction of waiting room with facilities for our patients at a cost of Rs.37,132,913.18.
12. Implementation of Middeniya-Angunakolapelessa, Weeraketiya, Barawakumbuka - - Rote Deniyaya, Urubokka and MorawakaWater Supply Projects - - the above projects envisage to rehabilitate the existing water supply scheme in Middeniya-Angunakolapelessa, Barawakumbuka - Rote and Weeraketiya (Muruthawela Water Supply Scheme) in the Hambantota District and augmentation of Deniyaya, Urubokka Water Supply Schemes and construction of a new Water Supply Scheme at. Morawaka replacing the existing Pradeshiya Sabha Scheme in Matara District. The proposal made by Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena, Minister of Water Supply and Drainage, to proceed with the related activities, was approved.by the Cabinet.
13. Procurement of 80 Nos. Small New Buses for Remote Villages - the proposal made by Hon. Kumara Welgama, Minister of Transport, to award the contract to supply 80 nos. New 35 seater two door Ashok Leyland Lynx Buses at a unit price of Rs. 3,600,000.00 and at a total price of Rs. 288.0 million, to Lanka Ashok Leyland Plc, as recommended by the Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee (SCAPC), was approved by the Cabinet.
14. Enhancement of Research Innovation and Development Capabilities in the Rubber Research Institute - - the Rubber Research Institute was set up in 1909 to cater to the research and development aspects of the Rubber Industry and was the first ever.such Institute in the world and its valuable contribution to the advancement of global rubber industry is recognized world over. With the view to enhancing the capabilities of the Institute it is proposed to set up a modern laboratory complex. The proposed laboratory complex is expected to provide facilities to all the stakeholders in the rubber sector. including smallholder community, large scale rubber product manufacturers, rubber based trading companies, university students and academia. The proposal made by Hon. Mahinda Sarnarasinghe, Minister of Plantation Industries, to proceed with the related activities, was approved by the Cabinet.
