Decision taken by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 15.11.2012
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- Published on Thursday, 15 November 2012 13:08
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1. SACEP Secretariat to be setup at Baththaramulla
On a proposal made by minister of Environment Mr. Anura Priyadarshana Yapa the Cabinet of Ministers approved for the allocation of a block of land by the Urban Development Authority in an around Baththaramulla, for the secretariat and the residence of the Director General of the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme. Rs. 50.0 million will be allocated for the purpose.
South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP) is an inter governmental organization established in 1982 under an Articles of Association by the governments of South Asia, to promote and support protection, management and enhancement of the environment in the region and its present membership comprises of the governments of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
2. Sri Lanka to obtain Membership of the international Sugar Organization
A proposal made by Mr. Reginold Cooray, Minister of Minor Export Crop Promotion to obtain membership of the International Sugar Organization was approved by cabinet.
This is an inter-Government Organization based in London which was established by the international sugar agreement of 1968 and its membership consists of the European Union and 59 other countries.
Some of its objectives are-
• to ensure enhanced international co-operation in connection with world sugar matters and related issues
• to provide a forum for inter-governmental consultations on this subject
This is an inter-Government Organization based in London which was established by the international sugar agreement of 1968 and its membership consists of the European Union and 59 other countries.
3. A Tourist Information Centre under Divineguma at Unavatuna
The proposal made by Mr. Dayasritha Tissera, Minister of state Resources and Enterprise Development, to vest the Unawatuna Branch of Lanka Salusala with the Sri Lanka Hndicrafts Board, to develop it as Tourist Information centre and a sales outlet under the ‘Divinaguma’ programme for the benefit of local as well as foreign tourist, was approved by the cabinet.
4. An Emergency Service Centre for Batticaloa Teaching Hospital.
A proposal made by Mr. Maithripala Sirisena Minister of Health, to develop an emergency and accident service facilities at the Batticaloa Teaching hospital at a cost Rs. 760 million was approved by the Cabinet.
The Foundation Supporting a National Trauma Service in Sri Lanka, in the state of Victoria, Australia, will provide a donation of US$ two Million in cash and kind for this project
5. Rs 1074 for construction of permanent Building for Ampara Hardy to Mark Dayata Kirula 2013
The proposal made by Mr. Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Minister of Telecommunication and Information Technology to award the construction of permanent Building at the Hardy Advanced Technological institute, Ampara for Deyata kirula National Exhibition 2013 to the state Engineering Corporation and the State Development and Construction Corporation, was approved by the cabinet.
Dayata Kirula 2013 exhibition is to be inaugurated on Feb 05, 2013 in the premises of Ampara Hardy Advanced Technological Institute. This covers an area of 120 acres of land.
In 2012 temporary huts were put up at Oyamaduwa Dayata Kirula – 2012 and they were not utilized thereafter. Based on experience Dayata Kirula Operation Committee has decided to establish permanent buildings for 2013 Dayata Kirula.
6. GOH Hotel to be developed as a Five Star Hotel at a Cost of US one Billion
The Grand Oriental Hotel (GOH) building at Colombo Fort Owned and operated by the Bank of Ceylon (BOC), adjoining lands owned by Police dept and a waterfront is to be developed while maintaining its heritage on a proposal by President Mahinda Rajapaksha as Minister of Defence and Urban Development.
Bank of Ceylon has prepared a comprehensive redevelopment project proposal covering the above area. The project is to be implemented in three stages and the total investment would be around us $ 1 billion.
Once the project is completed under a PPP program GOH will be converted in to a 5 star Diamond Hotel and the entire project on completion will add 500 rooms to the tourism sector.
7. Sri Lanka to Seek Observer Status
The proposal made by prof. G.L.Peris, Minister of External Affairs, to seek observer status in the conference on Interaction and Confidence building measures in Asia (CICA) was approved by the cabinet.
The objective of the conference is to enhance cooperation towards promoting peace, security and stability in Asia.
The organization presently has 24 member countries of central asia, Middle east, East Asia and South Asia and India and Pakistan are also among the member states.
International Organizations such as UN, League of Arab States and several other countries including USA, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia have obtained observer status.
Sri Lanka intention to join the CICA will be announced during the visit by the president to republic of Kazakhastan on 20th Nov.
Meanwhile an Agreement with the Republic of Kazakhstan on Cooperation in the field of Tourism is to be signed.
The proposal made by Mr. Basil Rajapakshe, Minister of Economic Development to sign and ratify this agreement on Co- operation in the field of tourism between the two countries, was approved by the cabinet.
The proposal agreement will enhance the bilateral relationship between the two countries and strengthen the tourism flow in to Sri Lanka and open new avenue for trade and investments.
Sri Lanka established diplomatic relations with Kazakhastan on June 29, 1992
8. Govt. grants US$ 1.5 Million to Uganda
On a proposal made by President, in his capacity as Minister of Finance and planning, to provide grant assistance in a sum of US $ 1.5 million to government of Uganda for the establishment of Sri Lanka-Uganda friendship Vocational and Technical Training Centre in Uganda.
The grant assistant will be utilized for upgrading and strengthening the Masulita Vocational and Technicanal Trading Centre in Uganda. The construction work is to be entrusted to a sri lanka contractor presently engaged in construction works in Uganda and Sri Lankan Skilled labour will be used for the construction work. The minister of youth Affairs and Skills Development will execute the project on behalf of the government of Srl Lanka.
9. Passenger Vehicles to be marked with different colours
A proposal made by Mr. Kumara Welgama, Minister of transport to paint vehicles used for passenger transport in different colours was approved by the cabinet.
Accordingly, Vehicles will be painted in different colours as follows.
• private passenger transport busses – Light Blue- PANTONE colour code no. 2707 C
• Public passenger transport buses of SLTB- Red-PANTONE colour code No. 185 C
• Vehicle used as School Vans and School Buses -Yellow PANTONE colour code No.1375 C
In the present there are about 20000 buses deployed for passenger transport by both state and private sector among the 4.5 million registered vehicles in Sri Lanka which are being used for different transport purposes.
The above is to be implemented for vehicles to be registered from 2013-02-01 onwards and for all other vehicles referred to above, registered and operated at present, from 2014-01-01.
