Implementation of the process of strengthening regional cooperative societies

The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by Hon. Bandula Gunawardane, Minister of Trade, Marketing Development, Cooperatives and Consumer Services to implement the above project in association with national level cooperatives, apex cooperative organizations, provincial cooperative organizations, Ministries and the Provincial Cooperative Departments.

Additionally, approval is granted to implement a framework for the strengthening of the cooperative societies while giving priority to 119 villages that receive the lowest level of income in the year 2007 and to utilize the fund of Rs. 50 million allocated in the budget for the year 2007.

The Cooperative has been identified as the mechanism for enhancing the quality of life of the rural masses and to accelerate to development process in order that its benefits will reach the rural masses who are the principal stakeholders of the development process.

Project to improve rice consumption in the Estate populace

The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by Hon. Maithreepala Sirisena, Minister of Agriculture Development and Agrarian Services to implement a project to improve rice consumption in the estate populace.

The objective of this project is to encourage estate sector population to consume rice and rice based food items instead of wheat flour consumption which in turn may lead to the nutritional growth of the children and control unnecessary out-flow of foreign exchange whereby ensure stabilization of local rice market.

People living in the estates are mainly used to wheat flour consumption over rice which means a colossal sum of foreign exchange annually. Further the child population in the estate sector suffer from malnutrition and resultant underweight.

The project will be implemented in two stages over a period of two years commencing from 2007. A budgetary allocation of Rs. 10 million is for the year 2007 and is expected to allocate another Rs 10 million for the year 2008.

MoU signing to establish a 300MW combined power plant at Kerawalapitiya

The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by Hon. W.D.J. Seneviratne, Minister of Power and Energy authorizing the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mitsubishi Cooperation enabling the Cooperation to mobilize a consultant immediately to undertake the above feasibility study.

CEB or the Government will not bear any cost on the study that is scheduled to be finished in six months and CEB will only provide all facilities including technical inputs.

While the Project Committee appointed by the National Procurement Agency and the Cabinet Appointed Negotiating Committee processes are in progress the Mitsubishi Cooperation proposed to sign a MoU for carrying out the said feasibility study. This is to satisfy the construction of LNG terminal/Jetty and other related infrastructure, conversion of all other LFO operated plants of CEB in to LNG operated ones and continuous supply of LNG for 15 years.

The Long Term Generation Expansion Plan of the CEB for 2006 – 2020 envisages 545Mw of additional Thermal Power to be added to the grid during the period of 2008 – 2009 of which 200Mw power has to be added to the grid by 2008 and 345 Mw by 2009 to avert the looming power crisis.

National Literary Arts Festival

The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by Hon. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, Minister of Cultural Affairs seeking to gain necessary cooperation of the ministries concerned and other institutions under their purview to conduct this year’s National Literary Arts Festival at the Sri Pali College, Horana in Kaluthara district for four day from 20 September 2007.

The Ministry of Cultural Affairs in collaboration with the Department of Cultural Affairs and other institutions within its purview, organizes annually a variety of literary and arts festivals to uphold the positive characteristics that form the base of the Sri Lankans cultural life. This year’s National Literary Arts Festival will be held for four days with the participation of a large number of artistes including local and foreign writers.

Draft Bill to incorporate the Malwatta Maha Vihara, Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Human Cooperation Foundation

The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Minister of Religious Affairs and Moral Upliftment for the amendments made to the Draft Bill submitted by Hon. Wijedasa Rajapakse M.P. to incorporate The Malwatta Maha Vihara and Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Human Cooperation Foundation.

The Attorney General has informed that the Provisions of the Draft Bill as amended by the Legal Draftsman are not inconsistent with the Constitution subject to a re-amendment. The Foundation will study and research subjects relating to Buddhism and establish and maintain libraries and teaching centres.

Committee to protect local food production

The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by Hon. Maithreepala Sirisena, Minister of Agriculture Development and Agrarian Services to establish a Committee to protect Local Food Production consisting of representatives from several relevant Ministries, Departments and institutions.

Cabinet has also granted approval to consider the review reports that will be submitted by the Committee for decisions making in local food production and importation.

The main challenge before the Government in the coming year is to establish a price formula for increased local food production expected during the next three years through ‘National Drive for Promoting Local Food Production’.

It is essential to have a methodology for forwarding information and data required for deciding the quantity of food to be imported following the assessment of variations between the local food production and market requirements. Through this process, it will be possible to import actual quantity of food requirements without any loss to foreign exchange earning also protecting the interest of the local farmer.

Development of ‘Kekunagahadeniya’ low land within Mahara Divisional Secretariat

The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by Hon. Dinesh Gunawardene, Minister of Urban Development and Sacred Area Development for the reclaim and development of ‘Kekunagahadeniya’ low land within the Mahara Divisional Secretariat area.

Reclaiming and developing this land will provide the essential social infrastructure for this area, according to the drainage plan prepared by the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Cooperation and subject to the Central Environment Authority clearance.

This land is 11.92 ha in extend presently owned by Land Reform Commission and agreed to had over the physical procession of the land to initiate the above projects identified by the Urban Development Authority.

Regulations made under the Finance Leasing Act No. 56 of 2000

The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Minister of Finance and Planning for the regulations made under the Finance Leasing Act No. 56 of 2000. Accordingly the Cabinet has sought its approval to place the Gazette containing the above regulation.

According to section 44 (1) of the Finance Leasing Act No. 56 of 2000, every person who was carrying on finance leasing business on the appointed date of the Act (01.08.2001) could continue to carry on such business for a period not exceeding one year from such appointed date but was required to apply for and obtain a certificate of registration under the Act to carry on such finance leasing business within that period of one year.

However, two companies that carried on finance leasing business instituted action in the Court of Appeal, challenging the requirement to have minimum issued and paid up capita of Rs. 75 million to be eligible to obtain registration under the Act.

Formulation of budget 2008.

The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Minister of Finance and Planning for the formulation of Budget for the year 2008. Arrangements are being made to formulate Budget 2008 to achieve the targets inline with Mahinda Chinthana: Vision for Sri Lanka: a Ten Year Horizon development Framework 2006- 2016.

1. Presentation of the Appropriation Bill to Parliament 10.10.2007 (Wednesday)
(First Reading)

2. Budget Speech 07.11.2007 (Wednesday)
(Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill)

3. Second Reading Debate From 09.11.2007 to
(Seven allotted days) 19.11.2007

4. Committee Stage Debate From 20.11.2007 to 14.12.2007.
(Nineteen Allotted days)

Confirmation of Special Education Teaching assistants

The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by Hon. Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha for the confirmation of Special Education Teaching Assistants. In consideration of the requirement of teachers during the period from 1990 to 2005, the Western Province Council has recruited 124 persons from time to time as Teaching Assistants for teaching the students having special education needs who are studying in schools in western province. All these persons have passed their G.C.E. (A.L) Examination.

It is necessary to obtain their service continuously for the educational development of the children having special education needs in view of the fact that they have served a long period and also gained experience in the field of Special Education. There will be no additional expenditure to be incurred by the Government in confirming them as they are already paid a monthly allowance of Rs. 3000/-

These 124 persons will be appointed to the Posts of Teaching Assistants subject to the condition that they should be engaged in teaching solely for students having special education.

After fulfilling the qualifications stipulated in the Teacher’s Service Minute within a period of 05 years from 01.01.2007 these Teaching Assistants will be absorbed to grade 3 Class II of Teachers’ Service as permanent teachers.

Financial provisions required for salaries and allowances for these teachers will be paid by the Western Provincial Council.

National Teacher Education Board and the National Colleges of Education Bill.

The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by Hon. Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha, for the obtaining recommendations and the approval of the Legal Draftsmen’s Department for the proposed bill of National Teacher Training Education Board and the National Colleges of Education.

The teacher Education is a key factor among others, makes a direct impact on quality development in the education field. By drafting and obtaining the approval for a new bill merging the activities expected from the abolished Teacher Training Authority and the directives of the National Colleges of Education Act which carry out the activities of the Colleges of Education, a quality teacher development could be established eliminating the existing weakness in the teacher education programmes.

Policy Frame related to Admission of Children to Grade One in Government and Approved Private Schools for year 2008.

The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by Hon. Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha, for the establishment of policy framework related to Admission of Children to Grade One in Government and Approved Private Schools for year 2008.

The previous Circular No. 2006/20 dated 23.05.2006 for the admission of children to Grade One in Government and approved Private schools for the year 2007 has been abolished by the Supreme Court on 29.03.2007 indicating that it had violated the Fundamental Rights. In terms of the orders issued by the Supreme Court to the Secretary to His Excellency the President, instructions were issued to the National Education Commission by the Secretary to the President for the formulation of a policy for this purpose.

New Town Development Project at Eriyagama Relocation of the Peradeniya Existing Town Centre.

The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by Hon. Minister of Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Dinesh Gunawardena for the New Town Development Project at Eriyagama Relocation of the Peradeniya Existing Town Centre.

The existing town in Peradeniya is one of the oldest towns in Kandy. It has been developed haphazardly and become as a congested town. This is due to inadequacy of land and the natural setting of the town, which is one side with steep hilly area and other side with the Mahaweli River.

Part of Peradeniya town was affected with land slides and the town has become a fragile area. Urban Development Authority (UDA) has done a detailed survey and proposed to relocate the entire Preadeniya town both hill side and the river side to a new location at Eriyagama.

The identified land is an abandoned paddy land, an extent of 21 acres and only 500 meters away from the existing town centre along Kandy- Colombo Road.

A total sum of Rs. 300 million will be spent for the Road Developments. The Urban Development Authority will be the Project management Agency.

Anusha Palpita
Director of Government Information