02. GUIDELINES TO BE COMPLIED BY ELECTRONIC OR PRINT MEDIA DURING A REFERENDUM OR DURING THE PERIOD PERTAINING TO AN ELECTION

The proposal made by Hon. Prime Minister RanilWickremesinghe, to present the gazette extraordinary No. 1955/19 on 25.02.2016 that includes guidelines imposed by the Elections Commission, as per sub paragraph 104 (b) (5) of the Constitution as amended by the 19th amendment to the constitution for compliance by electronic and print media and activists, to ensure free and fair referendum or an election, in the parliament, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

03. Signing of Memorandum of Understanding between Expo 2012 YEOSU Korea Foundation and Marine Environmental Authority of Sri Lanka for building capacity to manage Marine Debris in Sri Lanka

Marine environment can be considered as an important resource which impacts on fishery, harbour, and tourism field as well as the socioeconomic development. The polluted environment due to marine debris disposed through human activities should be cleaned with a large expense. Sometimes the damage is incurable. 60% to 80% of marine debris has been identified as plastic and Sri Lanka is in the 5th place in marine debris disposal. Expo 2012 YEOSU Korea Foundation established in 2012 with the financial assistance of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of South Korea intends to contribute in sustainable tourism of the world marine environment. The foundation has agreed to assist in starting a research project for the capacity development in marine debris management and the proposal made byH.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment, to sign a MoU between the said foundation and Marine Environmental Authority of Sri Lanka, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

04. HON. GAMINI JAYAWICKRAMA PERERA ELECTED AS CHAIR AND HON. S.B. DISSANAYAKE AS VICE CHAIR OF THE ASIA PACIFIC FORUM ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (APFSD) 2016

Above forum which was organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission was held from 03 to 05 of April 2016 at Bangkok, Thailand. Preliminary agreements on the regional path for implementation of the agenda for sustainable development 2030 and establishment of the APFSD with follow-up and review were achieved. GaminiJayawickramaPerera, Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlifewas elected as the Chair of the Forum for year 2016 while S.B Dissanayake, Minister of Social Empowerment and Welfare was elected as a Vice Chair. Above information was considered by the Cabinet of Ministers.

05. ESTABLISHMENT OF AN EMBASSY AT ADDIS ABABA IN ETHIOPIA

Sri Lanka holds official diplomatic relations with 38 countries among 54 sovereign states in the African region, and resident diplomatic missions are only being implemented in 04 African countries. The proposal made by Hon.MangalaSamaraweera, Minister of Foreign Affairs, to establish an embassy at Addis Ababa in Ethiopia where the Headquarters of the African Union is situated, with the view of broadening trade and economic relations with Ethiopia the country with the largest economy in the region and to build a close relationship with countries of the African Union, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

06. KATANA WATER SUPPLY PROJECT

The proposal made by Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Minister of City Planning and Water Supply, to implement the Katana Water Supply Project funded by concessionary funds of China Development Bank and by local banks, as recommended by the Ministerial Committee on Economic Management, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

07. THAMBUTTEGAMA WATER SUPPLY PROJECT

The proposal made by Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Minister of City Planning and Water Supply, to implement the Thambuttegama Water Supply Project funded by concessionary funds of China Development Bank, as recommended by the Ministerial Committee on Economic Management, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

08. HOSTING THE 69TH SESSION OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION REGIONAL COMMITTEE FOR SOUTH EAST ASIA ON SEPTEMBER 5TH – 9TH, 2016

The above committee established in 1948 provides leadership on health matters and relevant policy options and technical support in thesouth east region where the home to a quarter of the world population. Sri Lanka works closely with this committee and the proposal made by Hon. RajithaSenarathne, Minister of Health Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, to host the 69th session of the committee to be held in Sri Lanka from 5th -9th September 2016, showcasing the progress that Sri Lanka has gained in health sector, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

09. PROPOSAL TO INCREASE THE PENALTIES FOR OBSTRUCTION OF DUTIES OF AUTHORISED OFFICER UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE FISHERIES AND AQUATIC RESOURCES ACT

Penalties on illegal methods in fishing has been increased to comply with international standards and to tally with the scale of the violations to prevent disadvantageous statuses which have caused the European Union ban on fish. Due to the strictness of these penalties authorised officers in implementing the fisheries act including the navy and the police are confronted with various obstructions and threatening. The proposal made by Hon. Mahinda Amaraweera, Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development, to amend the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Act to revise the minimum fine for obstructing an authorised officer from Rs. 25,000/- to Rs. 50,000/- and to be increased simultaneous to the size of the vessel and to consider the officers of the Coast Conservation Force as authorised officers for implementation of the act, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

10. CONSTRUCTION OF HOSTELS UNDER THE EXPEDITIOUS PROJECT OF CONSTRUCTING HOSTELS FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

According to the budget proposals 2016, the government considers it as a responsibility to provide hostel facilities for all university students and it is expected to be done by 2018. The second phase of the project for construction of 60 hostels will be completed in mid 2016 and it will facilitate providing of hostel facilities to 62% of students in national universities and higher technological institutes. The proposal made by Hon. LakshmanKiriella, Minister of Higher Education and Highways, to construct 16 hostels using 2016 budget allocations with the view of solving the issue of lack of hostel facilities including the issue of providing hostels for students that are to be enrolled in the technology stream, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

11. TENDER FOR SUPPLY OF 27,000 VIALS OF CONCENTRATED MONOCLONAL PURIFIED AND DETERGENT TREATED DRIED FACTOR VIII FRACTION 200 IU – 350 IU

The proposal made by Hon. RajithaSenarathne, Minister of Health Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, to award the tender for purchase of above drug which is used in treating haemophilia patients, as recommended by the Cabinet Appointed Standing Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

12. TENDER FOR SUPPLY OF 950,000 VIALS OF BIPHASIC ISOPHANE INSULIN (HUMAN) INJECTION BP, 1000 IU – 10ML

The proposal made by Hon. RajithaSenarathne, Minister of Health Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, to award the tender for purchase of above drug which is used in treating diabetic patients, as recommended by the Procurement Appeal Board, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

13. AWARDING OF CONSULTANCY CONTRACT FOR NATIONAL TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION NETWORK DEVELOPMENT AND EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

Above project is implemented under loan assistance from Japan International Cooperation Agency. The proposal made by Hon. RanjithSiyambalapitiya, Minister of Power and Renewable Energy, to award the above contract for construction of 400 kv Transmission line and 11 kv underground electricity distribution development in Dehiwala, Mount Lavinia and Battaramulla area, as recommended by the Cabinet Appointed Consultancy Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

14. CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR DEVELOPMENT OF BASIN INVESTMENT PLANS (FLOOD AND DROUGHT RISK MITIGATION INVESTMENT PLANS) FOR SELECTED BASINS UNDER CLIMATE RESILIENCE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

This project intends to develop infrastructure required to face disasters caused by climate changes. Accordingly, as its first component it is expected to develop infrastructure in 10 river basins to minimize disasters that could be caused by flood and drought. As the second component it is proposed to improve irrigation and transport infrastructure damaged by recent floods and landslides and to reform risky lands where school buildings are situated with protected walls. The proposal made by Hon. WijithWijayamuniZoysa, Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management, to award the contract for consultancy services for the first component of the project, as recommended by the Cabinet Appointed Consultancy Procurement Committee, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

15. OBTAINING THE APPROVAL OF THE CABINET OF MINISTERS TO PRINT THE SCHOOL TEXTBOOKS TO BE DISTRIBUTED FREE OF CHARGE FOR THE YEAR 2017 WITHOUT FOLLOWING THE OPEN PROCUREMENT PROCEDURE

The joint proposal made by Hon. AkilaVirajKariyawasam, Minister of Education and Hon. GayanthaKarunathilaka, Minister of Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media, to award the tender for printing of 30% of school textbooks to be distributed among students in 2017 to the State Printing Corporation and the Department of Government Printing, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

16. REORIENTATION OF SRI LANKAN AIRLINES

Sri Lankan Airlines which was established in 1947 as Air Ceylon Ltd was incorporated in 1979 as Air Lanka Ltd. In 1998 it 40% of its shares were conveyed to the Emirates Airlines according to a ten year management agreement and it was renamed as Sri Lankan Airlines. During the period 1998-2008 which the Emirates Company has managed the Sri Lankan Airlines was a profitable institute and had paid relevant taxes to the government. In 2010 it was acquired again by the government and with the poor management and other reasons it has experienced continuous losses till date. According to evaluations of the Finance Ministry its overall liabilities at 31-12-2015 is Rs. 461 billion. A suitable shareholder should be joined to assign its operations to make it a profitable institute again. In this regard the proposal made by Hon. Prime Minister RanilWickremesinghe, to take over all liabilities of the Sri Lankan Airlines by the Government of Sri Lanka, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

17. REVISION OF SALARIES OF THE MEMBERS OF THE THREE ARMED FORCES – 2016

The PA Circular no. 03/2016 dated 25-02-2016 was issued as per a decision taken by the Cabinet of Ministers to add the special allowance and the interim allowance of Rs. 10,000/- to the basic salary of public servants in stages. Simultaneously, circular instructions for revision of salaries of employees of public corporations, statutory boards and fully owned government companies have been issued. In line with the above steps, the proposal made by Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, Minister of Finance, to issue the circular which is prepared according to the recommendations of the National Salaries and Cadres Commission to amend the salaries of Three Armed Forces, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.