02. Vesting of land occupied by the Department of Probation and Child Care at Kottawa for Urban Development - the Urban Development Authority has prepared a Master Plan for the development of Kottawa Town which includes a Shopping Complex, Commercial Centre, the District Office of the National Housing Development Authority and the provision of other urban facilities to cater to future needs of the public. National Water Supply and Drainage Board and Ceylon Electricity Board will also establish their Regional Offices in this area. The proposal made by H.E. the President, in his capacity as the Minister of Defence and Urban Development, to vest the land of 04 acres in extent with the Urban Development Authority, was approved by the Cabinet.
03. Vesting of the land belonging to the Railway Department with the Urban Development Authority (UDA) for the implementation of Eheliyagoda Town Centre Development Project - under the Regional Township Development Programme, the UDA has undertaken the Eheliyagoda Town Expansion Project considering the town's importance as the main service centre of the region. According to the proposed plan, blocks of land from an extent of nearly 16 acres will be allocated to set up separate zones for hospital services, banking, financial and economic activities, including a dedicated zone for the gem trade. This programme will also benefit the people of the surrounding areas. The proposal made by H.E. the President, in his capacity as the Minister of Defence and Urban Development, to vest the said land with the Urban Development Authority, was approved by the Cabinet.
04. Establishment of Screening Clinics for screening and treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease of unknown etiology - the proposal made by Hon. Maithripala Sirisena, Minister of Health, to establish Chronic Kidney Disease Screening Clinics in the relevant hospitals at Padaviya, Aranaganvila, Bakamoona, Hettipola, Padavi Sri Pura, Dehiattakandiya, Wellawaya, Tissamaharama, Vavuniya South (Mamamaduwa), Sampath Nuwara and Tangalle, and to award the contract for the construction of the above to the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB), was approved by the Cabinet.
05. Establishment of a Lubricant Blending Plant in Sri Lanka as a Joint Venture between Hyrax Oil SDN BHD, Malaysia and Ceylon Petroleum Corporation - the Ministry of Petroleum Industries intends to establish a Lubricant Blending Plant in Sri Lanka as a Joint Venture between the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and a company in Malaysia with a total investment of US Dollars 9 million, to cater to the local market as well as to the export market. The proposal made by Hon. Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, Minister of Petroleum Industries, to proceed with the related activities, was approved by the Cabinet.
06. Regulations framed under the Companies Act, No.07 of 2007 and Societies Ordinance, No.16 of 1891 (Chapter 123) read with Societies Ordinance (Amendment) Act, No.ll of 2005 - the proposal made by Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce, to present the regulations prescribing new fees to be levied in respect of services rendered by the Department of Registrar of Companies, published in the Gazette Extraordinary Nos.1841/8 dated 2013-12-18 and 1847/2 dated 2014-01-27, in Parliament, was approved by the Cabinet.
07. Formation of a Study Group to Conduct a Feasibility Study to further Enhance Economic Relations between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh - the proposal made by Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce, to appoint a study group consisting of representatives from the relevant institutions, to undertake a feasibility study on concluding a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) or a Preferential Trading Arrangement (PTA) with Bangladesh, with a view to enhancing bilateral trade between the two countries, was approved by the Cabinet.
08. Visit to the Republic of Korea by Hon. Basil Rajapaksa as the Special Envoy of H.E. the President, accompanied by Hon. Susil Premajayantha, Minister of Environment and Renewable Energy - Hon. Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development, explained to the Cabinet on matters relating to his recent visit to the Republic of Korea as a Special Envoy of H.E. the President. He stated that the objective of the visit was to further consolidate economic ties, particularly for the economic programme that has been undertaken, and to strengthen the co-operation between the two countries on technical and human resources development. He also stated that the Korean Government was willing to expedite projects already undertaken and to encourage more Korean investors to invest in Sri Lanka through facilitation and loan support packages. Cabinet also noted that the Korean Government has provided a sum of US $340 million during the period from 2008 to 2012 and a further US $290 million is to be provided up to 2015 and that around 25,000 Sri Lankan workers are employed in Korea, thereby providing a considerable amount of foreign exchange to the country.
09. Signing the Minamata Convention on Mercury - it has been observed that adverse effects have been caused globally to man's health and ecosystem by the release of mercury to the environment for a long time. The main objective of the above Convention is to protect human health and the global environment against adverse effects of mercury by minimizing the release of mercury to air, water and land. On the proposal made by Hon. Susil Premajayantha, Minister
of Environment and Renewable Energy, Cabinet decided to appoint a Committee consisting of a representative each from the relevant Ministries and Institutions, to conduct an in-depth study on this matter and submit a Report for consideration.
10. Network Meeting for South Asia Ozone Officers organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) - Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) in collaboration with the National Ozone Unit - 27-30 May 2014, Grand Oriental Hotel (GOH), Colombo, Sri Lanka - Sri Lanka acceded to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and ratified the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer in 1989 and its subsequent amendments between 1990 and 1999. Sri Lanka continues to be an active country in the phasing out of ozone depleting substances and is well ahead of developing countries in fulfilling the Protocol requirements. This Network Meeting is an annual event planned by the Ozone Secretariat of the Montreal Protocol. Details of the above meeting scheduled to be held from 27th to 30th May 2014 in Colombo, was furnished to the Cabinet for its information by Hon. Susil Premajayantha, Minister of Environment and Renewable Energy.
11. Project of Adaptation of Agricultural Community residing near Mahaweli River Basin in Sri Lanka for adverse effects of Climate Change - the main objective of this project is to build up the life patterns of the agricultural community depending on rain water and residing near the Mahaweli River Basin, by helping them to adapt themselves to adverse effects of climate change through productive use of land and water and directing them towards diversified sustainable livelihoods. On the proposal made by Hon. Susil Premajayantha, Minister of Environment and Renewable Energy, Cabinet decided to implement the programme drawn up covering all areas subjected to adverse effects of climate change, by utilizing US $7,989,727 donated by the United Nations Adaptation Fund.
12. National Occupational Safety and Health Policy of Sri Lanka - the main objective of this National Policy is to establish a national occupational safety and health system and programmes in collaboration with key stakeholders such as the Government, the Private Sector and Trade Unions geared towards the improvement of the working environment. This Policy aims to promote a safety and health oriented culture in the country, prevent occupational injuries and diseases, promote safe and healthy working environments to ensure the well-being of persons at work and provide compensation and rehabilitation to those who were injured or had contracted occupational diseases while at work. Accordingly, the National Policy on Occupational Safety and Health developed by the Ministry of Labour and Labour Relations in collaboration with all key stakeholders and submitted to the Cabinet by Hon. Gamini Lokuge, Minister of Labour and Labour Relations, was approved by the Cabinet.
13. Protection and Conservation of Water Sources, their Catchments and Reservations of Reservoirs, Rivers and Streams in Sri Lanka - a Sub-Committee appointed by the Parliamentary Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Lands and Land Development, after obtaining the views of all subject Ministries, Departments, Agencies and the General Public, has prepared a National Policy on the Protection and Conservation of Water Sources in the country, and the proposal made by Hon. Janaka Bandara Thennakoon, Minister of Lands and Land Development, to implement the National Policy on the Conservation and Protection of Water Sources, was approved by the Cabinet.
14. Signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan for the upliftment of Sports - the proposal made by Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Minster of Sports, seeking covering approval for the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan for the Development of Sports, was approved by the Cabinet.
15. Proposal to set up a Mixed Development Project at R. A. de Mel Mawatha, Colombo 03. - the proposal made by Hon. Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, Minister of Investment Promotion, to proceed with the relevant activities under the Strategic Development Projects Act No.14 of 2008, relating to the setting up of a mixed development project at R. A. de Mel Mawatha, Colombo 03., consisting of Apartment Units, Commercial Spaces with Car Parking facilities etc., by a foreign company with a total investment of US $250 million, to cater to the tourist trade, was approved by the Cabinet.
16. Proposal to set up a project for the Protection and Development of the Colombo Coastline from Galle Face to Mount Lavinia - the proposal is for the protection and development of a 10 km. stretch of the Colombo Coast Line between Galle Face and Mount Lavinia. The project will significantly improve the economic value and landscape of the Colombo West Coast and is to be implemented under the supervision of the Coast Conversation and Coastal Resource Management Department and the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka. The area will cover an extent of 590 acres. The proposal made by Hon. Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, Minister of Investment Promotion, to proceed with the activities, was approved by the Cabinet.
17. Proposed Mixed Development Project on an extent of 08 acres of land located at Slave Island, Colombo 02 - the proposed project aims to improve the existing standard of families residing in the area. Phase I of the project will provide 536 residential units and about 100 commercial shops within the said area; and Phase II will be a Mixed Development Project providing Commercial Office Space, Residential Apartments, Hotels etc. with modern amenities. The proposed investment is US $429.5 million. The proposal made by Hon. Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, Minister of Investment Promotion, to proceed with the relevant activities under the Strategic Development Projects Act No.14 of 2008 , was approved by the Cabinet.
18. Construction of 1000 Rural Bridges in Sri Lanka - Cabinet approval has already been granted to award the contract for the construction of 537 Rural Bridges to a company in the United Kingdom. The proposal made by Hon. Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development, to award the construction of the balance 463 Rural Bridges covering the entire country, to a company in Netherlands at a value of Euro 105 million to be financed by a Bank in Netherlands, was approved by the Cabinet.
19. Construction of an Eight Storied Building for the Medical Education Resource Centre (MERC) , of the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine (PGIM), University of Colombo - the proposal made by Hon. S.B. Dissanayaka, Minister of Higher Education, to award the above contract to the lowest evaluated substantially responsive bidder at a cost of Rs.142. 7 million, as recommended by the Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee (SCAPC), was approved by the Cabinet.
21. Construction of a new three Storied Building for the Divisional Secretariat, Udubaddawa - the proposal made by Hon. W.D.J. Seneviratne, Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs, to construct a new three storied building for the Divisional Secretariat, Udubaddawa, at a total cost of Rs.38.06 million and for the allocation of funds for the purpose under the Vote of the District Secretary, Kurunegala in 2015, was approved by the Cabinet.
22. Declaring 17th September 2014 as 'Sreemath Anagarika Dharmapala Day' - the 150th Birth Anniversary of Sreemath Anagarika Dharmapala falls on the 17th September 2014 and the Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs, the most Venerable Mahanayaka Theros and various religious and other organizations are making a joint effort to commemorate the Birth Anniversary of Sreemath Anagarika Dharmapala. The proposal made by Hon. W.D.J. Seneviratne, Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs, to declare 17th of September 2014 as the 'Sreemath Anagarika Dharmapala Day', was approved by the Cabinet.
23. Development of the District Hospital, Beliatta as a Specialized Maternal and Children's Hospital - a specialized Government Hospital for Maternity and Child Care Services for the South Eastern Region of the country has been a long felt need, due to the damages caused by the Tsunami in 2004 to such institutions in Galle, Matara, Hambantota and Ampara Districts. It is proposed to develop the Beliatta District Hospital in Hambantota to serve the above purpose and negotiations have already been concluded with a Bank in Netherlands to obtain loan facilities for the purpose. The proposal made by H.E. the President, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance and Planning, to enter into Agreements with the Bank of Netherlands to obtain loan facilities, was approved by the Cabinet.
24. Implementation of Green Power Development and Energy Efficiency Improvement Investment Programme - the proposed programme will focus on the green power development portion of the Government's energy sector investment programme and will help to encourage and facilitate private sector investment in renewable power generation. The first phase of the proposed programme will include the following construction works:
* 30 MW hydro-power plant at Moragolla;
* four new grid substations and associated facilities at Kerawalapitiya (220/33 KV), Kappalturai (220/132/33 KV), Kalutara and Kesbewa (both 132/33 KV) and augmentation of Katunayake and old Anuradhapura l32/33 KV grid substations ill Western, Eastern and North Central Provinces:
* 33 KV lines and gantries at around Vavunativu and Madampe in Eastern and North Western Provinces; and
* DSM pilot sub-projects in Colombo under the physical investments.
The government will contribute US $40 million for Phase 1 of the project and the balance is to be provided as loans from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The proposal made by H.E. the President, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance and Planning, to proceed with the relevant activities relating to the Agreements to be entered into, was approved by the Cabinet.
25. Grant Assistance of US $18.8 million from the Australian Department of Fiscal Affairs and Trade, administered by the World Bank for the ongoing North East Local Services Improvement Project - (Pura Neguma) - the North East Local Services Improvement Project (Pura Neguma) is being implemented by the Government to support the local authorities in the Northern and Eastern Provinces to improve their services and local infrastructure. The project covers sixty five Pradeshiya Sabhas, twelve Urban Councils and three Municipal Councils in Northern and Eastern Provinces. The proposed grant of US $18.8 million will be utilized to expand the existing 'Pura Neguma' Project to an additional 22 Local Authorities in the adjoining Districts of Moneragala, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura and Puttalam. The proposal made by H.E. the President, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance and Planning, to proceed with the matters relating to the Agreements to be entered into, was approved by the Cabinet.
