Decisions taken at the Cabinet Meeting held on 10th June, 2015

April 16, 2024

Cabinet Decisions

Decisions taken at the Cabinet Meeting held on 10th June, 2015 ^Featured

June 11, 2015

Decisions taken at the Cabinet Meeting held on 10^th June, 2015

01. Sri Lanka’s National Flower

Taking into consideration the proposals and suggestions made by the general public and based on recommendations made by a committee of scholars and officials it had been declared in the year 1986 the flower “Manel” as the national flower of Sri Lanka. . Since on certain occasions where the national flower was displayed the right national flower was not displayed.

Taking into consideration the discrepancies that had taken place in the recent times a proposal made by the Hon. President Maithripala Sirisena as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment to refer to Sri Lanka’s national flower as “Manel” in the Sinhala language, as “Neelothpalam” in the Tamil language and as “Blue Water Lily” in the English language and to use the right picture and the scientific name of this flower “Nymphaea nouchali Burm.f” at all times when the national flower is referred to, and to provide adequate publicity about the picture and right name of the national flower and to enlighten about this to the relevant public institutions was approved by the Cabinet.

02.Ratifying the United Nations Convention on the use of electronic communications in respect of International agreements

The above referenced convention prepared by the United Nations Commission on International Commercial Laws (UNCITRAL) was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in the year 2005. The objective of this convention is to provide practical solutions to the problems in the use of electronic communication in relation to international agreements. Sri Lanka has signed this convention in the year 2006, and in the formulation of the Electronic Transaction Act No, 19 of the year 2006 the basic principles and contents of the Convention have been included into the said Act. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs Mangala Samaraweera to empower the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ratify the above referenced convention and to empower the Information Communication Technology Institution (ICTA) to make recommendations on revisions and modifications that may be necessary to fulfill the obligations of the convention,

03.The Memorandum of Understanding to be signed between the Tropical Agriculture Science Educational Institution of the People’s Republic of China and the Coconut Research Institute of the Ministry of Plantation Industry of the Democratic Socialist People’s Republic of Sri Lanka

The objective of the above referenced memorandum of understanding is to establish a strong foundation and cooperation and to formulate joint coconut research and between the two countries in the spheres of coconut research and development including skill development relating to scientific, technological development aspects. Accordingly the Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Plantation Industry Lakshman Kiriella to provide the covering approval for the memorandum of understanding signed during the visit of Hon. President to the People’s Republic of China during the month of March this year and to implement the matters covered in the agreement from now onwards until the next 3 years.

04.Polgahawela, Pothuhera, Alawwa integrated water supply project, Kundasale – Haaragama water supply project., Matugama, Dodangoda, Agalawatte and Neboda integrated water supply project

The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Water Supply and Drainage and Urban Development Rauf Hakeem to implement the above reference water supply schemes and to carry forward the activities of these projects and to request the Foreign Resources Department to hold discussions and enter into agreements with the relevant institutions to obtain necessary funds for the implementation of these projects.

05.Declaring 21 – 27 September 2015 as the week of maritime activities in Sri Lanka in line with the World Maritime Day which falls on 25^th September 2015

The International Maritime Organization with the fullest sponsorship of the United Nations with the objective of promoting naval and maritime activities and the development of global economy has declared 25^th September this year as the International Maritime Day. The theme of this year’s World Maritime Day is “Maritime Education and Training”.

Accordingly the Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Ports and Naval Affairs Mr. Arjuna Ranatunga to declare the period from 21^st to 27^th September as the week of maritime activities in Sri Lanka and to implement proposed programmes during this week.

06.Provision of self employment loan facilities for the socialized trainees

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal in the year 2012 to implement a self employment loan facilities scheme to the rehabilitated trainees who had been involved in terrorist activities. This loan scheme has provided a great opportunity for the rehabilitated trainee youths to successfully carry out their livelihood activities. It has also provided a great strength for them to make the necessary economic atmosphere to make themselves as respectable citizens in the society. The amount of loans provided by the State Banks under this scheme upto 31^st December 2014 exceeds Rs. 302 Million. The number of applications that had been submitted in anticipation of obtaining loans in the future exceeds 5750. The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Rehabilitation and Hindu Religious Affairs D.M.Swaminathan to implement the 2^nd stage of this scheme with necessary revisions and to implement the provision of loans through Bank of Ceylon, the People’s Bank, Lankaputra Bank, and the Savings Bank of Sri Lanka.

07.Implementation of various Agency Services by the Sri Lanka Postal Department in conjunction with government, semi government and private sector institutions

At present the Sri Lanka Postal Department has a history of more than 200 years of service to the public is implementing an efficient and quality service to the public utilizing new technological and new marketing concepts. Under this scheme the Department has taken steps to provide agency services in conjunction with government, semi government and private sector institutions

The Department has a network of around 4963 offices throughout the country. Among these offices 653 offices have been provided modern technology and they have been networked successfully.

The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Posts and Muslim Religious Affairs M.H.A.Haleem to make use of the software facilities available in the Department and without incurring an additional expenditure to implement the business services expeditiously and in a transparent manner.

08.Construction of a 4 storied building for the Polonnaruwa District Secretary’s Office

The Polonnaruwa District which belongs to the North Central Province has a land area of 3337.9 square kilometers and consist of 7 Divisional Secretariat Divisions and 295 Grama Niladhari Divisions. The building now being used as the Polonnaruwa District Secretary’s Office is more than 53 years old, and in this building complex there are more than 25 government and ministry offices. The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Home Affairs Joseph Michael Perera to construct a new building complex for the Polonnaruwa District Secretary’s Office with modern facilities and thereby provide a more efficient and productive service to the people and to implement further activities in this connection.

09.Strengthening of Widows and Breadwinners of houses

The women’s population in Sri Lanka exceeds 51%. A majority of them have become widows due to the clashes that existed during the recent past and thereby they have become Breadwinners of houses. The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Women’s Affairs Mrs. K.D.M.Chandrani Bandara to implement an expeditious programme to enhance these women economically and socially in the districts that these women are present in large numbers.

These districts are Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Vavuniya, Mulativu, Ampara, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Anuradhapura ad Polonnaruwa.

10.Declaration of “National Housing Day” signifying participation housing development of Sri Lanka

The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Housing and Samurdi to successfully implement the government policy of providing the ownership of a house to each and every Sri Lankan and to productively implement the National Housing Development programme now being implemented and with the objective of mustering more people’s participation for the programme and to declare the day on which participation housing programme of this country was initiated as the National Housing Development day and accordingly declare 23^rd June 2015 as the National Housing Development day, and to declare the week commencing from 23^rd June as Housing Week and to implement house construction activities during that week .

11. The construction of new Maternity Hospital of Galle

After the 2004 Tsunami disaster the Helmut Kohl Foundation of Germany started the above referenced construction project of building a maternity hospital in the Galle Town. Due to various reasons the construction work of this project has been stalled since 2008. The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal made by the Hon. Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine Dr. Rajitha Senaratne to consider the urgency of providing the services of this hospital to people in the surrounding areas and to award the tender of carrying out the remaining work of this hospital to the lowest successful bidder.