Decisions taken by the Cabinet at its Meeting held on 04-12-2014

November 23, 2024

Cabinet Decisions

Decisions taken by the Cabinet at its Meeting held on 04-12-2014

December 04, 2014

1. Memorandum of Understanding between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and Republic of Korea on Recognition of Certificates issued to Seafarers - The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watch-keeping (STWC) 1978 has made it mandatory for a seafarer holding maritime certificates issued to him by the maritime administration of his country to obtain a similar Certificate of Recognition from the country concerned to serve on ships flying its flag. The Merchant Shipping Act, No.52 of 1971 also highlights the compliance with this requirement. Sri Lanka has already entered into Agreements with 28 countries whereby a large number of Sri Lankan seafarers are provided with opportunities to serve on foreign vessels. The Republic of Korea has expressed its willingness to enter into a Bilateral Agreement regarding the issuance of the said certificates which will enable Sri Lankan seafarers to serve on ships flying the Korean flag and Korean seafarers to serve on ships registered under the Sri Lankan flag. The proposal made by H.E. the President, in his capacity as the Minister of Highways. Ports and Shipping to sign the above Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries, was approved by the Cabinet.

2. Dutugemunu Pilgrims Rest established at Lumbini City, Nepal - the proposal made by Hon. D.M. Jayaratne, Minister of Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs for the allocation of financial provisions of Rs.20.72 million by the General Treasury for the purchase of furniture and equipment to the Dutugemunu Pilgrims Rest at Lumbini City, Nepal for the use of visiting pilgrims, was approved by the Cabinet.

3. Amendment to the Prevention of Crimes Ordinance ~ Since the enactment of this Ordinance many new laws have been introduced by Parliament, providing for the regularizing and control of certain criminal activities which also resulted in the introduction of new offences in order to combat the commission of such crimes. A need therefore has now arisen to enable those accused of committing some of the offences introduced by these laws also to be fingerprinted. The proposal made by Hon, Rauff Hakeem, Minister of Justice, to instruct the Legal Draftsman to draft amending legislation for the purpose, was approved by the Cabinet.

4. Memorandum of Co-operation in Agriculture and related fields between the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka - the proposal made by Hon. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Minister of Agriculture, for signing of the above Memorandum of Co-operation between Sri Lanka and Japan, subject to the laws and regulations of the respective countries, to promote scientific. technical and economic cooperation in the field of agriculture, was approved by the Cabinet

5. Memorandum of Understanding. between Sri Lanka and People's Republic of China on Co-operation in Plant Inspection and Quarantine - this Memorandum of Understanding envisages protecting production of agriculture and forestry and promoting the trade of plant production through preventing the entry and spread of pest of plants into Sri Lanka and China from other countries. The proposal made by Hon. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Minister of Agriculture to sign the above Memorandum of Understanding, between Sri Lanka and China, was approved by the Cabinet.

6. Redevelopment of Tower Hill Area at Hambantota - according to the Zoning Plan of the Greater Hambantota Master Plan prepared by the Urban Development Authority, the 'Tower Hill Area' falls within the Coastal Tourism Zone. Redevelopment of this area will comprise mainly of designing tourism related premises such as Museums, Exhibition Halls, Information Centres, Rest Houses etc. and the identified archeological monuments will be rehabilitated and preserved. The proposal made by Hon. Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena Minister of Investment Promotion, to provide ten blocks of identified land for the purpose and to proceed with the activities relating to the allocation of blocks of land, was approved by the Cabinet.

7. Northern Expressway Project - Award of Contracts for Consultancy Services for Construction Supervision of Contract Packages No.02 to 08 - the proposal made by H.E. the President, in his capacity as the Minister of Highways, Ports and Shipping, to award the contracts for providing consultancy services for construction supervision for Contract Packages 02 to 08, for the construction of the portion of the Northern Expressway from Veyangoda to Galewela and the portion of the Link Expressway from Pothuhera to Galagedara, as recommended by the Cabinet Appointed Consultants Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet.

8. Project for the Reconstruction of 25 Bridges funded by Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KF AED) - Award of Civil Works Contract for Contract Package 01 - The Government of Sri Lanka has received a loan amounting to 10 million Kuwaiti Dinars from Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) towards the cost of the project for the reconstruction of 25 bridges which are narrow or in weak condition on the National Highway Network in Western, Southern, Eastern, Central. Sabaragumuwa and Northern Provinces have been identified for reconstruction under this project. The project has been divided into 03 Contract Packages and the Contract Package 01 includes 08 bridges. The proposal made by H.E. the President, in his capacity as the Minister of Highways, Ports and Shipping, to award the contract for the Contract Package 01 as recommended by the Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee (SCAPC), was approved by the Cabinet.

9. Award of Contract for the Construction of Flyovers at Rajagiriya, Polgahawela and Ganemulla - The Road Development Authority (RDA) has identified the need to construct flyovers at Rajagiriya, Polgahawela and Ganemulla. A flyover at Rajagidya is required to be constructed urgently to ease traffic congestion, minimize accidents and to reduce high vehicle operating costs. Flyovers at Ganemulla and Polgahawela are especially required to avoid long delays that are being experienced by road users due to frequent closure of railway gates at the level crossings. The proposal made by H.E. the President, in his capacity as Minister of Highways, Ports and Shipping, to award the contract for the construction of the three flyovers referred to above, as recommended by the Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee (SCAPC) was approved by the Cabinet.

10. Rehabilitation of Six identified Roads - the following sections of roads which link the Provinces and Districts of the country have been identified for rehabilitation, and improvement of these roads will provide better accessibility to the rural areas and will enhance the connectivity of productive centers to the domestic and international markets:
* Ayagama - Kukulegama Road - 16.89 km;
* Dickwella - Jangulla - Thalpitigala Road - 24.14 km;
• Balangoda - Bowatte - Kaltota Road - 28.96 km;
* Norwood - Bogawanthalawa - Campian Road 16.89 km;
* Passara - Hingurukaduwa - Pelawatte Road - 30.17 km;
and Blackpool - Ambewella - Pattipola - Horton Plains Road 28.16 km,
The proposal made by H.E. the President, in his capacity as the Minister of Highways, Ports and Shipping, to award the contract for the rehabilitation of the above road sections as recommended by the Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee (SCAPC), was approved by the Cabinet.

11. Implementation of Priority Water Supply Projects with funding secured from Local Banks - Award of Contract for the Laggala New Town Water Supply Project - the proposal made by Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena, Minister of Water Supply and Drainage, to award the above contract as recommended by the Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee (SCAPC) was approved by the Cabinet.

12. Implementation of Priority Water Supply Projects with funding secured from Local Banks - Award of Contract for the Towns East of Colombo District WSP Package II - this project includes the construction of 18,000 ml capacity Ground Reservoir. supply and laying of 08 km length of transmission pipeline and 10 km length of distribution pipeline from Iridapola junction to Pitumpe along Waga Road. This distribution line covers a part of four Grarna Niladhari Divisions, mainly Waga West, Pinnawala South, Uggalla and Pitumpe North in the Padukka Divisional Secretariat Area. The proposal made by Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena, Minister of Water Supply and Drainage, to award the above contract as recommended by the Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee (SCAPC), was approved by the Cabinet.

13. Construction of the New Court Complex at Batticaloa (phase II) - the proposal made by Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Minister of Justice, to construct the new Court Complex at Batticaloa and to award the relevant contract to the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB)t was approved by the Cabinet.

14. Construction of Rice Trade Stalls affiliated to the Marandagahamula Rice Stores Complex - rice marketing activities have been in operation for over two decades in and around the city of Marandagahamula in the Divulapitiya Divisional Secretariat Division in the Gampaha District and it has since been expanded to be the biggest rice marketing centre in the Western Province. A Rice Stores Complex has already been constructed at Wewegodellawatte, Marandagaharnula at a cost of Rs.372.18 million. It has been found necessary to construct 115 new rice stalls at a cost of Rs.115 million adjoining the Rice Stores Complex. The proposal made by Hon. Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development, to entrust the construction work to the State Engineering Corporation, was approved by the Cabinet.

15. Infrastructure Development of Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced Technological Education - the proposal made by Hon. S.B. Dissanayake, Minister of Higher Education, to enhance facilities at the following Advanced Technological Institutes to cater to the needs of the students who pass the G.C.E. (A/L) Examination but fail to gain admission to the Universities, was approved by the Cabinet:

• construction of a four storied building complex at the Advanced Technological Institute, Dehiwala;
• construction of a four storied building complex at the Advanced Technological Institute, Kegalle; and
• construction of a four storied building complex at the Advanced Technological Institute, Jaffna,