02. Memorandum of Understanding between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on Disaster Management
The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Minister of Public Security, Disaster Management and Christian Religious Affairs John Amaratunge to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding between Sri Lanka and Pakistan to enhance the existing mutual cooperation between the two countries on disaster management and to sign the said MOU which has been drafted with the objective of making a successful mechanism of disaster management. According to this Memorandum of Understanding Sri Lanka and Pakistan will cooperate with each other in the under mentioned sectors of disaster management.
• Community protection under the conditions of damages caused by storms and cyclones
• Establishment of a community level pre-warning system on voluntary basis to minimize the community disaster dangers
• Formulation of constitutional legal methods to monitor the development activities in areas threatened with floods, landslides and soil erosion.
• Create guidelines for cooperation on flood management
• Establish pre-warning networks on floods and landslides
• Establish fruitful disaster management services
03. Revision of the Immigration and Emigration act to include life details to the Passports of Sri Lanka
The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Minister of Public Security, Disaster Management and Christian Religious Affairs John Amaratunge to revise the Immigration and Emigration Act No., 20 of 1948 as per the draft formulated by the Legal Draftsman enabling to obtain finger prints when passports are issued or renewed by the Department of Immigration and Emigration and submit the said Draft Bill for approval by the Parliament.
04. Implementation of a Certified Price Structure for the natural raw rubber produced by the Rubber small holders
One of the proposals included in the 100 days programme of the new government is to implement a certified price scheme of paying Rs. 350/= per a kilogram of natural raw rubber produced by the Rubber Small Holders. This proposal is also included in the interim budget presented to the Parliament by the Minister of Finance on 29th January, 2015. Accordingly, with the consensus of all organizations represented in the rubber sector, The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Minister of Plantation Industry Lakshman Kiriella to implement the proposed scheme of paying Rs. 350/= per a kilogram of natural raw rubber produced by the Rubber Small Holders with effect from 15th March 2015.
05. Implementation of the special programme of islandwide village upliftment in line with the 100 days Special Development Programme
Under this special programme, it is expected to uplift the status of 36,822 villages coming under the 14,023 Grama Niladhari Divisions throughout the country with the cooperation and participation of the public. Under this process the general public will be directly involved in identifying required projects, planning, implementation, supervision, post observation, management and maintenance of these projects. Under this programme each village will be provided with an allocation Rs. 1 Million each for each project. Accordingly, with the expected community participation in each project to the value of 25% of the project, each village will get a project worth Rs. 1.25 Million. The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Minister of Housing and Samurdhi Sajith Premadasa to implement this project.
06. Memorandum of Understanding between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on Development of Sports
The objective of this Memorandum of Understanding is to formulate a work plan for cooperation between the two countries for mutual effectiveness and expectations on research activities on sports, sport development, and exemplariness. In this connection much attention will be focused on the under mentioned sport sectors;
Exchange of teams in the fields of Boxing, Golf, Karate, Taekwondo, Table Tennis, Volleyball, Baseball, Hockey, Scosh. and Cricket.
- Exchange of sports training programmes and officials
- Exchange of equipment and material pertaining to development of programmes related to sports.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal made in this connection by the Hon. Minister of Tourism and Sports Navin Dissanayake to enter into this memorandum of understanding
07. Construction of Houses for the Estate population living in areas affected by landslides of in areas threatened with landslides
In accordance with a study carried out by the National Building Research Organization, the Estate population living in areas affected by landslides and in areas threatened with landslides should be expeditiously resettled in safe areas. Accordingly, the Estate population affected by landslides or those whose houses were destroyed by fire or those estate population who were resettled in other areas due to landslide threats should be provided with houses under the 100 days programme of the government. Therefore the Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made in this connection by the Minister of Infrastructure Facilities Development Palani Digambaram. Accordingly steps will be taken to construct 300 houses for them in the year 2015.
08. Improvement of sanitary facilities for the resettled people
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal made in this connection by the Minister of Resettlement, Rehabilitation and Hindu Religious Affairs D.M.Swaminathan to construct a sanitary facility covering a maximum amount of Rs. 50,000 with the objective of improving the sanitary facilities of the resettled people.
09. Procurement of Fertilizer – 2015 Yala Season
The programme of providing fertilizer subsidy to the farmers at a very cheap price is being implemented by the Ministry of Irrigation and Agriculture and is handled by the Ceylon Fertilizer Company Limited (Lak Pohora) and Colombo Commercial Fertilizer Limited (Commercial Fertilizer). The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Minister of Irrigation and Agriculture Duminda Dissanauyake to purchase the fertilizer required for distribution during the month of May for the Yala Season based on the recommendations of the Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee.
10. Integrated Road Investment Programme funded by the Asian Development Bank
The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Minister of Highways, Higher Education, and Investment Promotion Kabir Hashim to award the civil work contract relating to package 9 of the Southern Province, in accordance with the recommendations of the cabinet appointed procurement committee, the integrated road investment project (i-road project) funded by the Asian Development Bank.
11. The Project of constructing the Akuregoda Defence Headquarters Complex
A huge sum of expenditure has been estimated for the construction of this project. The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Minister of Finance Ravi Karunanayake to appoint a committee comprising senior officials of the Ministries of Finance, Urban Development, Water Supply and Drainage, Buildings Department, Auditor General’s Department, and under the participation of the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence to submit a report within a period of one month, taking into consideration all and other aspects relating to the cost of the project, implementation period and awarding of contracts for advisory services to the consultancy institutions and other matters relating to this project, and to implement the project based on the recommendations that will be made by this committee.
12. The award of contract relating to the Bandaranaike International Airport runway overlay and related works
Since it has been confirmed that the award of this contract has been made without following a competitive tender procedure and without transparency, The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Minister of Ports, Naval and Aviation Arjuna Ranatunga to annul the contract that has already been awarded.
13. Draft Bills relating to implementation of 2015 Budget proposals
The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Minister of Finance Ravi Karunanayake to present to the Parliament for approval the bills that had been formulated by the Legal Draughtsman for revision of the under mentioned Acts required for implementation of the proposals made in the 2015 Budget.
• Inland Revenue Act No 10 of 2006
• Value added tax Act No. 14 of 2002
• Nation Building Tax Act No.9 of 2009
• The Finance Act
• Economic Service Charge Act. No. 13 of 2005
• Telecommunication Levy Act No. 21 of 2011
• Betting and Gaming Levy Act No. 40 of 1988
14. Renovation of Superior Courts Complex – Second Stage
The Superior Court Complex Building within which the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, and the Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations are housed was constructed by the Government of the Republic of China in 1980s. On a request made by the Government of Sri Lanka the renovation of this complex was successfully completed. In order to carry out the renovation work under the second stage and to formulate the relevant plans it has been made arrangements to get down a team of Chinese government’s special planning experts. The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Minister of Justice and Labour Relations Wijedasa Rajapakssa to sign the basic agreement with the Government of the Republic of China to get down these experts. The scope of renovation work will cover the following:
Structural changes to the layout of the building
• repair of electrical system
• repair of drainage system
• repair of telephone system
• repair of fire guard system and
• repair of air conditioning
15. Special Presidential Task Force on Recovery of State Assets
The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by President Maithreepala Sirisena to establish a Special Presidential Task Force to investigate, identify, trace, seize and transfer to Sri Lanka, state assets and revenue due to the Government of Sri Lanka which have been illegally or unlawfully acquired or procured by Sri Lankan nationals and other persons acting on behalf of Sri Lankan nationals or otherwise, and are being concealed or kept outside the territory of Sri Lanka by such persons and others acting on their behalf, and take effective steps to cause their seizure and transfer or return to Sri Lanka to be confiscated and vested in the General Treasury.
16. Signing a Memorandum of Understanding between Sri Lanka and Qatar for the development of sports
The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Minister of Tourism and Sports Navin Dissanayake to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the government of Qatar for the purpose of strengthening the cooperation in the field of sports. The memorandum of understanding will focus attention on the development and cooperation in the following sectors:
• Sports that required by persons with handicaps
• Control of using banned stimulators
• Management and maintenance of sport facilities
• Cooperation in all sectors related to sports and its development
• Any other cooperation in relation to agreed sports
17. Signing a Memorandum of Understanding between Sri Lanka and Qatar on Youth Development Activities
The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the.Prime Minister as Minister of Policy Planning, Economic Affairs, Child, Youth and Cultural Affairs to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Government of Qatar. The MOU will cover the following:
• Exchanging of information about youth associations, youth centres, and in other areas of youth policy in both countries and enhance cooperation
• Extending invitations to international youth events held in both countries
• Exchanging youth visits, visits of officials and experts in the field of youth and conduct of youth cultural exchange progammes
• Cooperation on all fields related to youth development to strengthen the friendship between the two countries
• Exchanging information and enhance cooperation on issues related to the employment of unemployed youth and
• Any other agreed areas of cooperation related to youth
