Thursday, 23 August 2007

Exercising of political rights

The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by the Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs Hon. Karu Jayasuriya on the Exercising of Political Rights-Amendment to Section I of Chapter XXXII of the Establishment Code. The provisions of section 1:3 of chapter XXXII of the Establishment Code have been amended by Public Administration Circular No.7/2004 dated 15.12.2004, in terms of the decision taken at the Cabinet meeting held on 28.09.2004 with regard to the Cabinet Memorandum dated 07.09.2004 submitted on the above subject.

Provisions have been made accordingly for officers not entitled to the exercise of political rights, either to resign or to retire from service when standing for an election and if any person either who retires is having a period of 10 years service, to pay him a pension from the date he completes the age of 55 years. The decision also stated that the appeals for re-employment submitte3d by such officers should be considered individually depending on the merits of each of the requests. The Public Administration Circular No. 07/2004(1) dated 13.05.2005 has been issued clarifying the procedure to be adopted in respect of the re-employment of such officers on the instructions issued by Secretary to the Cabinet. However, the Public Service Commission (PSC) has opined that the said provisions are contrary to the powers vested in the and the Cabinet of Ministers by the 17th Amendment of the Constitution. Also, that the PSC has instructed to make corrections of the provisions of this circular such that they will conform with those of the constitution, after obtaining instructions of the Cabinet of Ministers, since the said provisions are not relevant to the task of making the policy decisions assigned to the Cabinet of Ministers. Observations and concurrence of the PSC on the procedure to be followed in amending the Public Administration Circular No. 07/2004 (1) was sought by letter dated 01.12.2005. Approval of the PSC has been granted for this request on 01.01.2007 and it has been observed that the officers not entitled to the exercise of political rights should not be re-employed when they have resigned from service when standing for an election and only the pension right should be granted to such officers. Hon. Minister observed that in implementing the amendment to Public Administration Circular No. 07/2004(1), the officers who have resigned from service in order to contest an election and who are not entitled to the exercise of political rights coming back to service would create a way for the disappearance of unspoiled impartiality which is an essential feature of the public service. Therefore, the Cabinet has granted its approval to the withdrawal of the Public Administration Circular No. 07/2004(1) dated 15.05.2005 with immediate effect.

Defence Services Command & Staff College Act to be presented in the parliament

The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is also the Minister of Defence, Public Security, Law and Order on the Defence Services Command and Staff College Act. The Military Command and Staff College which was maintained as a college belonging to the Army under the Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law and Order has been established as the Defence Services Command and Staff College with effect from 22/01/2007. This college constitutes the sole and highest level institute of Sri Lanka which provides practical and theoretical training to the officers of the three forces. Hon. Attorney General has confirmed that the Draft Bill on the Defence Services Command and Staff College prepared by the Legal Draftsman is in conformity with the Constitution. Therefore, the Cabinet has granted its approval to publish this Draft Bill in the Government Gazette and to present it in the parliament for approval.

CECB to construct five bridges

The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by Highways and Road Development Minister Hon. Jeyaraj Fernandopulle on the construction of contractor's yard, access and approach roads for the five steel bridges under Austrian aid. The Government has obtained a loan of Euro 10.55 million from Austria for the construction of five steel bridges at Hirana, Molkawa, Weralugatotupola and two on Lathpandura-Molkawa Road. The Road Development Authority is the implementing agency of the projects. The contractor, Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB) is to initially start the construction of two steel bridges on Lathpandura-Molkawa Road, during the middle of August 2007 and has planned to start the other three between January and May 2008. The construction of the contractor's yard and access and approach roads had to be started on 15th August 2007 in order to fulfill contractual obligations. Therefore, the Cabinet has granted its approval to award the contract to the CECB to carry out the construction of contractor's yard and access to all five bridges.

National Agricultural Policy to facilitate rapid growth

The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by Agriculture Development and Agrarian Services Minister Hon. Maithripala Sirisena on the National Agricultural Policy for Food and Export Agricultural Crops and Floriculture. The document presents the National Agricultural Policy Statements for the Food, Floriculture and Export Agricultural Crop sectors with the aim of solving many problems and facilitating their rapid growth. The objectives stipulated in the policies have been designed to meet the basic needs of the farming community in terms of food and nutrition security, enhanced employment opportunities and incomes through the adoption of technically feasible, socially acceptable, economically viable and environmentally friendly agricultural production technologies, marketing and related strategies.

Strengthening of Small Farmer Development Programmes

The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by Agriculture Development and Agrarian Services Minister Hon. Maithripala Sirisena on the strengthening of small farmer development programmes. This programme has been included in the Action Plan for the year 2007 with the objective of upgrading the position of the farming community by organising them as a team at farmers organisation level, and identify the resources available by offering them incentives to enable them to upgrade their lot by themselves. Therefore, the Cabinet has granted its approval to implement the project, utilize the sum of Rs. forty million allocated in the budget for 2007 and to allocate Rs. forty million per year in the budgetary provisions for 2008 and 2009.

MoU with J.P. &S. Holdings Lanka (Pvt) Ltd.

The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Minister Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with M/s.J.P.&S. Holdings Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. to carry out a feasibility study on off-shore sand mining, washing, sieving and marketing of processed sea sand in other parts of the country outside the Western Province. Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation (SLLRDC) is presently engaged in sand extraction and stock piling from off-shore borrow area at Kerawalapitiya, Muthrajawela to release the washed sand to the construction industry. M/s.J.P.&S. Holdings Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. is a Sri Lankan company and backed by a consortium of Japanese Companies. These companies have wide experience internationally in sea and sand mining operation and is prepared to carry out a detail feasibility study and formulate a project proposal for off-shore sand mining, washing, sieving and marketing. Therefore, the Cabinet has granted its approval to sign the MoU on the condition that the Urban Development and Sacred Area Develo0pment Ministry and the SLLRDC will not incur any expenses for the preparation or submission of the feasibility/detailed project proposal.

Joint Venture Company by ST&CC

The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by Construction and Engineering Services Minister Hon. Dr. Rajitha Senaratne on the formation of a joint venture company by State Development and Construction Corporation (SD & CC). At present, there is a very big demand for the crush metal aggregates and boulders which situation is expected to become critical when construction work on the Colombo South Harbour project, Outer Circular Highway, Colombo-Katunayake Express Way and Norochcholai Coal Power Plant are commenced due to the insufficient capacity of existing crusher plants and the difficulties in opening new crusher plants in the backdrops of various environmental objections. In view of the above facts, the Cabinet has granted its approval for the SD &CC to enter into a joint venture with Mass Trust Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, a Sri Lankan company, to produce crushed stone aggregates, ready mixed concrete, pre-cast concrete products and manufactured rock sand.

Anusha Palpita
Director of Government Information