Decisions taken by the Cabinet at its Meeting held on 10.05.2012

1.    Amending the Defence Services Command and Staff College Act No.5 of 2008

•   This college is the only educational institution which provides training facilities to the Middle Level Officers of the three Armed Forces.

•   With the view to providing better and enhanced educational facilities, this institution will be affiliated to the General Sir John Kotalawala Defence University to award post graduate degrees for the officers in the three armed services.
•   As at present the officers who get through the residential certificate course after passing the “PSC” certificate course they are entitled to apply for Post Graduate course at the University of Kelaniya.
•   The proposal made by President, as the Minister of Defence and Urban Development, to make necessary arrangements in the above Act to make this affiliation and to instruct the Legal Draftsman to draft amending legislation for the purpose, was approved by the Cabinet.

2.     Allocation of Blocks of Land on Regional Industrial Estates to set up Industries –

•    On a proposal made by Mr. Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce the Cabinet gave its approval for the allocation of blocks of land to the 52 selected industrialists on a 35 year lease basis, in the industrial parks in the country. on the recommendations of the relevant authorities and on conditions stipulated,
•    There are 25 Intestinal Estates established on District basis in the country and selection of industrialists for investment is being done following transparent procedure. This will create around 3000 direct job opportunities island wide with a investment of Rs 2040 million

3.   MoU with Republic of Kazakhstan

•    On a proposal made by Prof. G.L Peiris, Minister of External Affairs,cabine of ministers gave its approval to sign a MoU with the Republic of Kazakastan during his proposed visit to the Republic of Kazakhstan.
•    The objective of the proposed Memorandum of Understanding is to further strengthen and consolidate the close relationship between Sri Lanka and Kazakhstan by reviewing at an annual meeting, the political, economic, trade, scientific and cultural cooperation as well as issues of mutual interests in the international arena.

4.    Early actions taken to provide free school text books and uniforms for 2013

•    The proposal made by Bandula Gunawardena, Minister of Education, to entrust the printing of School Textbooks to the State Printing Corporation and the Department of Government Printing and the balance, if any, through open competitive bidding, was approved by the Cabinet.
•    It is expected to distribute school text books in time to around 4 million students and Bhikku students studying from grade one to eleven in the country.

•    Also a  proposal made by Mr Bandula Gunawardena, Minister of Education, to import 50% of the total quantity of School Uniform material for the year 2013 through the Sri Lanka State Trading (General) Corporation, following the competitive bidding procedure, was approved by the Cabinet.

5.     Tractors to be provided to farmers at concessionary rates to promote local food production –

•    The Government of Japan has made available to the Ministry of Agriculture, a consignment of agricultural equipment worth JY 360 million in 2012 which includes 50 Nos. 04 Wheel Tractors and 896 Nos. 02 Wheel Tractors.
•    On a proposal made by Mr.Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Minister of Agriculture, the Cabinet decided to provide such agricultural equipment on concessionary terms to the 'farmer organizations; and farmers who excel m the field of agriculture, selected through a transparent procedure where the use of organic fertilizer and the achievements made under the Divineguma Programme are measured.
•    Accordingly two wheel tractors will be sold at an estimated price of Rs 250,000 with all accessories and spare parts and the Four wheel tractors with all accessories and spare parts will be sold at a price of Rs 650,000.
•    These will be  issued with a minimum payment of Rs 25,000 to recover the balance amount within 36  monthly installments.

6.    Regulatory mechanism to deal with lightning prone construction

•    Location of Sri Lanka is such that it is exposed to severe thunderstorms and intense lightning than many other countries in the world.
•    With the rapid development of the country the use of delicate electrical and electronic equipment too has increased and these are vulnerable to both direct and indirect effects of lightning. Many developed countries have taken steps to mitigate this vulnerability which has resulted in minimizing the damage caused to lives and properties.
•    A regulatory mechanism coupled with a national certification system to reduce lightning related hazards caused by lightning prone construction will be introduced
•    The proposal made by Mr. Mahinda Amaraweera, Minister of Disaster Management to establish a National Centre for Lighting Safety, under the Department of Meteorology with an Interim Committee of Officials headed by the Director General of Meteorology to manage "the Centre, until such time proper legislation is framed for the purpose, was approved by the Cabinet.

7.    Construction of a Building for the Library of Faculty of Engineering University of Ruhuna –

•    The proposal made by Mr. S.B. Dissanayake, Minister of Higher Education, to construct a three storied building for the Library of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Ruhuna at a total cost of Rs.128.6 million, to commence this project in 2012 and complete construction work within three years, was approved by the Cabinet.

8.    Japanese Human Resources Development Scholarship Programme –

•    The Government of Japan has agreed to provide grant assistance in a sum of Japanese Yen 211 million (approximately Rs.340 million) to Sri Lanka for the Japanese Human Resources Development Scholarship Programme to be implemented in 2012.
•    The objective of this programme is to provide opportunities to Government Officials to follow post graduate studies in Japanese Universities in the fields of Public Policy and Public Finance, Public Administration, Regional Development etc.
•    The candidates for this programme will be selected on a competitive selection process. The proposal made by President, as the Minister of Finance and Planning, to enter into a Grant Agreement with the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JrCA) to obtain the above grant assistance, was approved by the Cabinet.

• < Prev
• Next >