02. MOBILIZATION OF HUMAN RESOURCES IN TRI FORCES FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

A considerable number of officers in armed forces, who possess technical and professional qualifications/experience, retire from the service annually due to completion of 22 years ofservice and with the completion of maximum period an officer can serve in a certain post. Many of these officers who are engage on Engineering, Surveying, Medical service, Nursing, Supplementary and Interim Medical Eservices, Technology and Sports retires at the age of 42-45 years who are eligible to perform duties with good physical and mental conditions. As a solution to the lack of technically and professionally skilled persons in the government field, the proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, to maintain a database of such retired officers by the Ministry of Defence, and to obtain their service where necessary to public institutions on contractual basis, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

03. PROVIDE THE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES OF THE DEFENCE SERVICE COMMAND AND STAFF COLLEGE TO FOREIGN OFFICERS

The Defence Service Command and Staff College,which was established in 2007 is the prominent military training institute in Sri Lanka. From 2009 foreign officers are given training opportunities as a way of demonstrating our goodwill. Considering the reputation, foreign exchange, knowledge and exchange of experiences which could be achieved through this programme, the proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Defence, to grant 10 training opportunities for a charge and 22 opportunities free of charge for foreign officers in 2017, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

04. NATIONAL INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES (IAS) POLICY, STRATEGIES AND ACTION PLAN FOR CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT OF INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES IN SRI LANKA

Introduction and spread of invasive alien species causes significant damage to natural and agro-ecosystems in Sri Lanka. Therefore well-coordinated multidisciplinary regulatory framework is required to control the introduction and spread of IAS in Sri Lanka. The proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment, to implement the national policy and action plan on IAS, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

05. REVISION OF AGRAHARA BENEFITS OFFERED BY THE NATIONAL INSURANCE TRUST FUND FOR PUBLIC OFFICERS AND THEIR FAMILIES

The proposal made by Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, to implement the Agrahara insurance scheme to grant expanded benefits to government officers including retired officers according to the recommendations of the Committee of Officials appointed to make recommendations on the above matter considering the increasing medical expenses, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

06. ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL LOAN PROTECTION SCHEME THROUGH THE NATIONAL INSURANCE TRUST FUND

Most Farmers obtain credit from banks and a few finance companies that are engaged in the provision of agricultural credit. In the event of the crops being damaged due to drought, floods, or other natural perils, the lending institutions are unable to recover a significant portion of their loans outstanding. The proposal made by Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, to implement the above protection scheme to cover farmers and these institutions in such damages, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

07. PROMOTION OF SRI LANKA TOURISM IN KEY MARKETS THROUGH A TACTICAL DIGITAL ONLINE ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN

Tourism industry has become the most developing field in Sri Lanka after 2009. According to a research conducted by Google it has been revealed that more than 50% of tourists have no intention on their next destination. More than 40% of world population currently uses internet, and the use of digital and social media marketing has popularized in promoting tourist destinations. The proposal made by Hon. John Amaratunge, Minister of Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs, to implement a strategic digital marketing programme in 2016 aiming recognized markets to promote the tourism industry in Sri Lanka, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

08. CONCESSIONARY RAILWAY FARES FOR HANDICAPPED WAR HEROES HOLDING “VIRUSARA” PRIVILEGE CARDS

The Virusara privilege card issued to disabled war heroes has offered them the privilege of obtaining services of government institutions and some private institutions for a concessionary charge. Expanding these concessions, the proposal made by Hon. Nimal Siripala de Silva, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, to provide them the opportunity to travel in train on 50% of the fare stated on the ticket, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

09. APPOINTMENT OF A COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS FOR THE CONTINENTAL SHELF SUBMISSION OF SRI LANKA TO THE COMMISSION ON THE LIMITS OF THE CONTINENTAL SHELF (CLCS) UNDER THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTIONS ON THE LAW OF THE SEA (UNCLOS)

On matters related to the establishment of the outer edge of the continental margins of states in the Southern Part of the Bay of Bengal, Sri Lanka has presented its continental shelf submission to the CLCS in 2009. There is a possibility of considering this submission by the CLCS during 2017-2022. The proposal made by Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Foreign Affairs, to appoint a committee of experts to defend the submission of Sri Lanka, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

10. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NATIONAL SCIENCE CENTRE

Establishment of the National Science Centre has already been approved by the cabinet. The Cabinet of Ministers have granted the approval to establish the above centre in a land owned by the Urban Development Authority at Mahena, Homagama, considering the facts presented by Hon. Susil Premajayantha, Minister of Science, Technology and Research.

11. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL AS A STATUTORY ENTITY

The proposal made by Hon. Susil Premajayantha, Minister of Science, Technology and Research, to gazette and present the drafted bill in parliament which is drafted to establish the National Research Council as a statutory entity with the view of creating a Science and Technology Research culture in the country, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

12. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION OF SRI LANKA AND THE NATIONAL NATURAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION OF CHINA

The proposal made by Hon. Susil Premajayantha, Minister of Science, Technology and Research, to sign the above MoU during the Hon. Prime Minister’s visit to China, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

13. IMPLEMENTATION OF NATIONAL PROGRAMME ON ENERGY DEMAND MANAGEMENT, EFFICIENT ENERGY USE AND ENERGY CONSERVATION

It is envisaged that an average of 1000 GWh power can be saved within next five years of time with the practices like change of multi-socio economic behaviour patterns and as well as energy demand programme on use of efficient energy equipment. As a result, a need of constructing 500 mw power stations within another 05 years of time can be avoided. Hence the above programme has been prepared by CEB, Lanka Electricity Company PVT Ltd, and Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority to be implemented with the contribution of domestic, commercial, industrial and government sector consumers. The proposal made by Hon. Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Minister of Power and Renewable Energy, to appoint a Presidential Task Force and a National Steering Committee to implement the said programme, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

14. PROPOSED BILL TO AMEND THE TRUST ORDINANCE NO. 9 OF 1917

The proposal made by Hon. Wijayadasa Rajapaksa, Minister of Justice, to amend the TrustOrdinance by broadening its scope with the view of minimising the risk of money laundering and financing terrorism, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

15. A TASK FORCE TO ESTABLISH A HILL COUNTRY NEW VILLAGES DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

Establishment of new towns and villages through development of houses through providing infrastructure to improve social and cultural needs of plantation community has been vested with the Ministry of Hill Country New Villages, Infrastructure and Community Development. A national plan (2016-2020) has been launched in this regard by the Ministry and to perform tasks vested to the Ministry it has been proposed to establish an Authority. The proposal made by Hon. U. Palani Thigambaram, Minister of Hill Country New Villages, Infrastructure and Community Development, to appoint a Task Force for drafting a new bill to establish the Hill Country New Villages Development Authority, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

16. PROCUREMENT OF OIL AND LUBRICANTS FOR SRI LANKA TRANSPORT BOARD

The proposal made by Hon. Nimal Siripala de Silva, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, to award the above contract to the bidder recommended by the Cabinet Appointed Standing Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

17. PROCUREMENT OF REBUILDING AND PRE-CURING SERVICES FOR TYRES FOR SRI LANKA TRANSPORT BOARD BUSES

The proposal made by Hon. Nimal Siripala de Silva, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, to obtain above services from the bidder recommended by the Cabinet Appointed Standing Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

18. REHABILITATION OF THE ROAD SECTION FROM SOUTHERN EXPRESSWAY TO MADURUGODA ON B157 ROAD

The Government of Sri Lanka has received a loan of US$ 75 million from Asian Development Bank towards the cost of Southern Road Connectivity Project for improving capacity of national highways linking the southern Expressway. The proposal made by Hon. Lakshman Kiriella, Minister of Higher Education and Highways, to award the contract for improvement of above road section about 10 KM of length including 5 years of performance based maintenance, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

19. PROCUREMENT PLAN OF THE CEYLON PETROLEUM CORPORATION FOR CRUDE OIL AND PETROLEUM PRODUCTS - 2016

The above procurement plan presented by Hon. Chandima Weerakkody, Minister of Petroleum Resources Development was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers according to the recommendations made by the Cabinet Appointed Standing Procurement Committee.

20. PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR FARMERS TO PURCHASE FERTILIZER ACCORDING TO THE BUDGET PROPOSALS 2016

Budget proposals 2016 has promised to provide money to farmers for purchasing of fertilizer from the open market instead of the earlier fertilizerconcession programme. The proposal made by Hon. Duminda Dissanayake, Minister of Agriculture, to provide cash for farmers to purchase fertilizer as Rs. 25,000/- per hectare subject to a maximum of two hectares for more than one hundred thousand farmers in the country for the Yala season 2016, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

21. OBTAINING MEMBERSHIP OF THE ASIAN INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT BANK (AIIB) TO SRI LANKA DOMESTIC RATIFICATION OF ARTICLES AND FORMULATING A CONSTITUENCY

Sri Lanka has obtained the membership of the AIIB on 29 January 2015 by signing an agreement. The proposal made by Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, Minister of Finance, to gazette and present the drafted bill in parliament which is drafted to ratify the above agreement, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

22. RECENT POWER BLACKOUTS AND UNINTERRUPTED POWER SUPPLY

The Cabinet of Ministers have discussed on the above matter and agreed to implement the following steps.
i. Implementation of recommendations made by the Committee appointed by H.E. the President presided by the Minister of Power and Renewable Energy, and the Committee appointed by the Hon. Prime Minister presided by Mr. C. Maliyedda.
ii. Purchase only the essential requirement of electricity from the private sector to face the limitations that could be occurred due to the insufficient rain.