02. Implementation of the 100 days programme related to providing land rights to the Estate Employees and the ownership of a legal residence
Under the 100 days programme of the government it has been assured that steps will be taken to save the Estate Employees from the difficult life they are enjoying at present by living in line rooms and they will be provided land rights and the ownership of a legal residence. Accordingly, in accordance with the agreement reached by all relevant parties and in order to implement the identified steps in this connection it has been decided to provide each of them a plot of land to the extent of 7 perches, to provide a legal document for them that would be accepted by any bank, and to reacquire the houses constructed by various organizations and provided to the beneficiaries and subsequently they were entrusted to third parties illegally and to acquire these houses without any compensation payment and entrust them to the Plantation Cooperative Societies. The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Plantation Industry Lakshman Kiriella to implement these activities.
03. National Policy and Strategic Framework on Cancer Prevention and Control
Cancer has been identified as a prime disease being reported in Sri Lanka during the recent period. The number of Renal Disease patients reported as 37.6 per 100,000 persons in the year 1985 has increased to 74.2 per 100,000 persons by the year 2005. Accordingly there is a trend of increasing this disease within Sri Lanka. It has been identified that there are 10 types of cancers and cancers including breast, oral cavity, oesphagus, cervix, lungs, thyroid, colon and rectum, lymphoma, ovary and leukemia are rampant in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s national health policy and Health Plan for 2007 to 2016 has identified as a part of the wide concept of preventing non communicable disease and cancer control. Hence, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine Dr. Rajitha Senaratne giving the national policy and the strategic plan which contains all measures required to minimize the difficulties being experienced by the people due to becoming ill and suffering from cancers.
04. The National Policy for Control of Alcohol in Sri Lanka
Use of alcohol has been identified as a major contributor for diseases that prevail throughout the world. It has also been listed as the major factor for the premature deaths and other forms of disease that are being reported from low and low medium income earning countries in the world. It has been reported that the death rate caused by male Sirosis patients in Sri Lanka amounts to 33.4 per 100,000 persons and it is the highest ratio in the world. The intoxicants greatly contribute for the high ratio of suicide rate prevailing in the country and self-cruelty being intentionally inflicted by people. Further, it also greatly contributes to domestic violence seen in the families. Similarly, there is also a close link between the use of intoxicants and the poverty levels prevailing in Sri Lanka. The Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medicine and the National Neurological Health Committee and other parties have identified on the importance of having a vibrant National Policy for control on the use of intoxicants. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine Dr. Rajitha Senaratne giving the national policy for the control of the use of intoxicants in Sri Lanka.
05. A special programme of carrying out cardiac operations for the children of low income earning families in the Lady Ridgeway Hospital.
The cardiac problems being experienced by the children from the time of birth has been identified as “inheriting cardiac diseases”. It has been estimated that 2500 to 3000 children in Sri Lanka are born with “inheriting cardiac diseases” each year. Out of them about 2000 children require to undergo cardiac operations. At present about 900 of such children undergo cardiac operations at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital each year. A small number of such operations are also being carried out at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital and Sri Jayawardenepura General Hospital. At present thousands of such children are in the waiting list for operations. Many of them die prior to performing the necessary operations or become subjected to non-curable complicated situations. Therefore, the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medicine has formulated a programme to perform these operations at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital outside the normal duty hours with the financial assistance from the “Gift of Life International” organization which is an organization affiliated with the Rotary Society. The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine Dr. Rajitha Senaratne to implement this programme.
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06. Obtaining Hosting facility for Holding the Asian Conference of 37th Remote Sensing in Sri Lanka from October to November
The Asian Remote Sensing Conference is an important international Conference being held annually by the country that holds the hosting facility of the Asian Organization of Remote Sensing and it is held to introduce the modern technology related to geographical and mapping surveys. This conference is being held alternatively in Asia Pacific countries to introduce Remote Sensing Technology and to improve its usage. The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Land M.K.D.S.Gunawardene to hold the Asian Conference of 37th Remote Sensing in Sri Lanka from October to November 2016
07. Transfer of lands for tye second phase of the Hambantota
Under the second phase of the Hambantota Port Projet 491.5 hectares of lands has been identified for the acquisition and these lands will be utilized for the port development activities and also for the port related industries. There are 400 families presently residing in these lands which are to be acquired and state lands are required to re-settle these families and payment of compensation to them have already been identified. The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation Arjuna Ranatunga to make arrangements to sign this Memorandum of Understanding.
08.Amendment to the Intellectual Property Act No. 36 of 2003 to enhance the protection given for Geographical Indications of Sri Lanka
The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen to make a regulation under section 204 of the intellectual property Act no. 36 of 2003 to safeguard the interests of the producers and exports of Ceylon Tea, Pure Ceylon Tea, Sri LankaTea, Pure Sri LankaTea, Ceylon Cinnamon, Pure Ceylon Cinnamon, Sri Lanka Cinnamon, Pure Sri Lanka Cinnamon, Sri Lanka Kurundu and any other product originating in Sri Lanka as may be identified by the Minister as a geographical indication and to make necessary regulations .
09. Obtaining Consultancy Services for the Broadlands Hydropower Project
The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Power and Energy Patali Champika Ranawake to authorize the Ceylon Electricity Board to award the contract for consultancy of the above project to Central Engineering Consultancy Burea based on the recommendations of the Cabinet Appointed Negotiating Committee.
10. Proposed Driver Training Track and the Vehicle Parking Area to be constructed at Werahera Office Premises of the Department of Motor Traffic
Practical tests to obtain driving licenses issued by the Department of Motor Traffice are conducted on district basis and accordingly the practical tests relevant to Colombo District are conducted at Werahera Office. Werahera office receives about 10,000 applications a month and currently the practical tests are conducted on the main road. Conducting practical tests on the main road is a difficult task and in comparison to other countries in the world is in a primitive state. Therefore, construction of a Driver Training Track and the Vehicle Parking Area at Werahera Office Premises of the Department of Motor Traffic has been identified as a prime task. . The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Internal Transport Ranjith Madduma Bandara to implement this task on a priority basis.
11. Signing the Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral consultastion between Sri Lanka and the Royal Government of Bhutan
The government if of the view that the proposed Memorandum on bilateral consultation with the Royal Government of Bhutan would enhance and strengthen the friendly relations between Sri Lanka and Bhutan and pave the way to initiate new avenues of cooperation and engagement in mutually agreed fields including through exchange of views on political, economic, cultural and educational cooperation and on regional and international issues of mutual interest. The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Ajith P.Perera to take necessary action to sign the said Memorandum of Understanding.
12. Increase of Mahapola Scholarship and Bursary Payment of Universities
It was proposed in the 2015 budget to increase the Mahapola Scholarship payment to Rs. 5,000/= with effect from 1st July 2015 in order to create an atmosphere of confidence among the student population. Accordingly, The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Higher Education and Research Dr. Sarath Amunugama to implement this proposal with effect from 1st May 2015 and to increase the bursary payment from Rs. 2,000/ to Rs. 2,500/= with effect from 1st May 2015.
13. Procurement of Container handling cranes for East Container Terminal of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority
The Sri Lanka Ports Authority has initiated action to develop its own container terminal within the Colombo South Harbour, namely the East Container Terminal (ETC). The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Ports and Shipping Arjuna Ranatunga to procure the necessary container handling cranes to start operational activities of the East Terminal immediately after the completion of the ongoing construction work.
14. Funeral ceremony of the late Maha Nayake Thero of the Shyamopali Nikaya of the Asgiriya Chapterr the most venerable Keerthi Shri Dhammassi Rathanapala Buddharakkithabidhana Thero
The late Maha Nayake Thero of the Shyamapoli Nikaya of the Asgiriya Chapterr the Most Venerable Keerthi Shri Dhammassi Rathanapala Buddharakkithabidhana Thero is a great scholarly Buddhist monk who has rendered an yeoman service for the promotion of Sasana, cultural and social services locally and internationally. The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Buddha Sasana Karu Jayasuriya to hold the funeral ceremony of the late Thera with full State Honour and declare Sunday 12th April the day of the funeral as a Day of National Mourning.
15. Establishment of an Office for National Unity
The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon.Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasighe to establish an office for National Unity to guarantee to every citizen equal opportunities in the economic, social, cultural and political spheres whilst safeguarding the Sri Lankan identity, and to build an inclusive society where diversity will be respected and celebrated, and a society in which all communities will co-exist in harmony and unity.
