1. Awarding scholarships to Officer Cadets in the Republic of Seashells to enter General Sir
John Kotalawala Defense University.
General Sir John Kotalawala Defense University has extended its services to foreign students
and has already awarded scholarships for officer cadets of the armed forces in many countries.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been informed by the High Commissioner of the Republic
of Seashells of their interest in joining the aforementioned scholarship programme. Therefore,
the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal submitted by His Excellency the President as
the Minister of Defense to enrol two officer cadets in the armed forces of the Republic of
Seashells in the scholarship programme in General Sir John Kotalawala Defense University
2. Project for the construction of a luxury urban hotel with 652 rooms in Colombo 03 area.
A luxury urban hotel comprising 652 rooms is planned to be constructed jointly by D.R. Home
Appliances (Pvt.) Limited which is a company under the group of Damro, Piyestra Furniture
(Pvt.) Limited and D.R. Industries (Pvt.) Limited in Colombo 03 area with an investment of
United States dollars 70.4 million. Approval of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka has been
received to award relevant concessionaires to it under the Strategic Development Projects Act
No 14 of 2008 subsequent to identification as a strategic development project under that act.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Hon.
Prime Minister as the Minister of Economic Policy and Planning for inaugurating the precise
process for considering the proposed project as a strategic development project under the
strategic development project act, and to publish the gazette notification under section 3 (2) of
the strategic development projects act No. 14 of 2008 precisely indicating the clearances /
relieves to be awarded for strategic development projects.
3. Memorandum of Understanding between Bandaranayake International Diplomatic
Training Institute and Sushma Swaraj Institute on Indian Foreign Service.
A proposal has been made to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding between
Bandaranayake International Diplomatic Training Institute and Sushma Swaraj Institute on
Indian Foreign Service in order to exchange cooperation and training developments between
the two parties. Clearance of the Attorney General has been received for the proposed draft
agreement. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal tabled by the Minister
of Foreign Affairs to sign the relevant Memorandum of Understanding.
4. Operation of the We - Uda Factory belongs to Ceylon Tile Industries (Pvt.) Limited with
the assistance from a private investor.
The production operations have been halted at the We - Uda factory in Mawathagama in the
district of Kurunegala which belongs to Ceylon Tile Industries (Pvt.) Limited since 2010
followed by the difficulty to supply raw materials. Thereafter, the Navy utilized this factory to
manufacture bricks required for Sanda Hiru Seya (Stupa) in Anuradhapura, but halted the same
after the year 2017. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the proposal
forwarded by the Minister of Industry for leasing We - Uda Factory with an area in extent of
09 acres, 01 rood and 31 perches to an eligible investor who would confirm a higher capability
after calling proposals from investors interested in initiating and maintaining a cley related
industry in the premises.
5. Market - oriented milk production project.
The United States Department of Agriculture has given its consent to allocate financial
assistance for the implementation of a market - oriented milk production project with the
objective of utilizing the esteemed standard for enhancing the productivity of milk producers
and the quality of their production. In addition the United States Department of Agriculture has
agreed to provide necessary funds up to the month of September 2024 in relation to this
project. It has been planned for continuous capacity building programmes for 38 government
and private sector milk producers to enhance their capacity. Accordingly, the Cabinet of
Ministers approved the resolution submitted by the Minister of Agriculture for entering into a
memorandum of understanding between The United States Department of Agriculture and the
local Ministry of Agriculture to implement the proposed project.
6. Encouragement program for selected athletes and coaches under the High Performance
Program
Targeting the 2024 and 2028 Olympic Games, National Sports Council has recommended the
implementation of an encouragement program to provide financial sponsorship for the training
needs of talented athletes who qualify on the basis of fitness levels and medal prospects and to
provide a financial allowance for coaches. Accordingly, cabinet of ministers approved the
proposal presented by Hon. Minister of Youth and Sports to pay a monthly allowance of Rs.
100000 / - to selected talented players and Rs. 50,000 / - to their coaches.
7. Obtaining the service of youth as "Community Assistants" (Volunteers) at Grama
Niladhari Division level
It has been identified that the Community Police Service, which operates in countries such as
Singapore and Japan, has the potential to reduce community-level crime. Based on the success
of such programs, the Ministry of Public Security in collaboration with the State Ministry of
Community Police Service and the Sri Lanka Police has taken steps from May 2021 to deploy
two full time police officers to each Grama Niladhari Division under the Community Police
Service Program. It is planned to employ two youths residing in the relevant Grama Niladhari
Division as "Community Assistants" to assist the police officers in obtaining community
participation in their duties. Young people over 18 years of age residing permanently in the
relevant Grama Seva Division those who held School Prefect positions and active in youth club
and other voluntary groups can apply for this. They provide a reputable service and are not
entitled to any benefits or other entitlements. The police will issue them a voluntary identity
card. A Certificate of Service on ''Community Leadership''; is issued after six months of
service. The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Public
Security for the implementation of the proposed project.
8. Purchase of locally manufactured drugs, surgical instruments and medical laboratory
consumables
The Government's policy is to promote the production of all pharmaceuticals, surgical
instruments and medical laboratory consumables that can be manufactured locally in
accordance with international standards. Accordingly the proposal presented by the Minister of
Health to introduce a transparent and efficient methodology for purchasing the said material
and for future purchasing of local products according to the said methodology was approved by
the Cabinet.
9. Introducing a Court Automation System
Cabinet approval has been granted on 05.02.2020 to implement a project in collaboration with
ICTA to design, supply, implement and maintain a Court automation system for the judicial
system in Sri Lanka. Seven bids have been submitted for the proposed project. Accordingly the
proposal presented by the Minister of Justice to award the said procurement to joint venture
Dialogue Broadband Networks Pvt. Ltd , Formis Network Services and Access International
Pvt. Lt, as per the recommendation of Cabinet appointed Procurement Committee.
10. Presentation of Orders prepared by the Minister of Sports to Parliament
Prohibited Stimulus Order (List of Prohibited Substances) No. 7 of 2021 made by the Minister
of Sports under Section 34 (1) of the Convention Against Doping in Sport Act No. 33 Of 2013
has been published in the Extraordinary Gazette on 18 January 2022. The Cabinet of Ministers
approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Youth and Sports to submit the said orders
to Parliament for approval.
