Import of Chloro Fluoro Carbons (CFCs) and Bromo Fluro Carbons (HALONs) banned

Cabinet approved a memorandum submitted by Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Champika Ranawaka to prohibit the import and export of virgin Chloro Fluoro Carbons (CFCs) with effect from January 1, 2008 and virgin Bromo Fluoro Carbons (Halons) with effect from January 1, 2010 with exemptions for essential and critical uses.

Cabinet also agreed to direct the Import and Export Controller to introduce appropriuate regulations under the Import and Export Controls Act.


Hostels for 800 students of the Rajarata University

Cabinet granted approval to memorandum submitted by the Minister of Higher Education, Prof. W.A. Wiswa Warnapala to award the contract for the construction of a hostel complex for 400 male students of the Rajarata University, Mihintale, to Sripali Constructions (Pvt) Ltd at a total contract sum of Rs. 142,701,804 (excluding VAT).

Cabinet also approved the awarding of the contract for construction of a hostel complex for 400 female students to Sripali Constructions (Pvt) Ltd., for a contract sum of Rs. 142,562,557 (excluding VAT).


A 20-bed ward for Seruwila Rural Hospital

Cabinet granted approval to a memorandum submitted by the Minister of Healthcare and Nutrition, Nimal Siripala De Silva, to hand over the construction work of a ward with a 20-bed capacity at the Seruwila Rural Hospital to the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB) for Rs. 11, 052,753.60 (with VAT) to be completed on Turn Key Basis and to bear expenses from the funds released to the National Health Development Fund by the Sewa Vanitha Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.


15 bridges for Northern and Eastern Provinces

Cabinet granted approval to a memorandum submitted by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his capacity as the Minister of Highways and Road Development, to award the construction of the superstructures of 15 bridges to the British firm Mabey Johnson outside of tender procedures in order to expedite construction of the same.

Cabinet also decided to call for tenders from local contractors for work related to other elements of the construction process.

Accordingly, 4 bridges will be built on the outer circle road of Trincomalee, 4 on the Seruwila-Somawathi road and 5 on the Puttalam-Mannar road.


Salary anomalies of Principals' Service and Teachers' Service to be removed

Cabinet granted approval to a memorandum submitted by the Minister of Education, Susil Premajayantha, to accept the recommendations made by the Salaries and Cadre Commissions with respect to the Principals' and Teachers' services and to obtain from the General Treasury an amount of Rs. 1.6 billion to implement these recommendations.

A 250m tower to facilitate TV and Radio broadcasting and other telecom services

Cabinet granted approval to a memorandum submitted by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to instruct the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) to facilitate and implement construction of a 250m tower to support all required services pertaining to TV and Radio broadcasts.

This tower will be designed to resolve the problem of the proliferation of tall towers in the capital city.

Accordingly, the TRCSL will be permitted to finance the project as a shareholder while funds will be secured through grants or aid or suitable sponsorship.

The Urban Development Authority will facilitate the land transaction as a matter of priority while the University of Moratuwa will assist in the project work.

The project is to be completed in 18 months.


Seven flyovers and 54 bridges with support from British Government

Cabinet approved a memorandum submitted by the acting Minister of Highways and Road Development, T.B. Ekanayaka, to construct 7 flyovers at an estimated cost of Sterling Pounds 32,945,5000 and 54 rural bridges at a cost of Sterling Pound 17,054,500.

Accordingly flyovers will be built in Kelaniya North (300m), Kelaniya South (300m), Panadura (288m), Nugegoda (261m), Kohuwala (219m), Dehiwala (335m) and Welikada Junction at Rajagiriya (455m).

Given the change of scope only 54 rural bridges instead of the 222 envisaged earlier will be built.


Bogambara Prison to be shifted to Pallekele

Cabinet granted approval to a memorandum submitted by the Minister of Justice and Law Reform, Amarasiri Dodangoda to revise the total cost estimate submitted by the State Engineering Corporation for stage one of the project to relocate the Bogambara Prison in Pallekel.

Accordingly the new cost estimate, based on contingencies, price escalation and VAT will be Rs. 507,647,722.35.


A National Centre for Hearing, Speech and other communicative disorders at Narahenpita

Cabinet granted approval to a memorandum submitted by the Minister of Healthcare and Nutrition, Nimal Siripala De Silva, to establish a National Centre for Hearing, Speech and other Communicative Disorders at Narahenpita at a cost of Rs. 1 billion, being a total grant from Telekom Malaysia through Dialog Telekom.

The primary objective of this project is to build and equip a world-class healthcare facility catering to children and adults with hearing, speech and other communicative disorders. The proposed centre will have state of the art audiology facilities and provide early detection, speech therapy, physiotherapy and integrative services.


Rehabilitation of electricity transmission line from Kilinochchi to Jaffna

Cabinet granted approval to a memorandum submitted by the Minister of Power and Energy, W.D.J. Seneviratne to upgrade and reconstruct the protection scheme of the 220KV transmission line and transformers in the CEB power system pertaining to the rehabilitation of the transmission line from Kilinochchi to Jaffna given the prevailing security situation.

Once normalcy is restored, the 67.2km Lynx double circuit 132KV transmission line from the Kilinochchi Grid Substation to the Chunnakam Grid Substation will be reconstructed with Zebra conductors.

In addition the 132/22KV Grid Substation at Chunnakam will be reconstructed with 2x31.5 MVA transformers and eight 33KV distribution feeders.


Existing grid connected street lamps to be replaced with off grid connected solar-wind hybrid street lamps

Cabinet granted approval to a memorandum submitted by the Minister of Power and Energy, W.D.J. Seneviratne to introduce innovative technology to replace grid-connected street lamps with those powered by renewable sources.

Accordingly a project team will be appointed to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility. The technology innovator, M/S Guangzhou Zhongke Henguen Energy Technology Company Ltd., will be invited to present detailed technical and commercial proposals in this regard along with a credit financial proposal.

The Sustainable Energy Authority (SEA) will be executing agency and the Director General of the Department of External Resources will handle all matters with respect to credit financing.


Disaster Management Act No. 13 of 2005 to be amended

Cabinet granted approval to a memorandum submitted by the Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights, Mahinda Samarasinghe to amend the above act and to commence consultations with the general public, key stakeholders and national and international organizations to provide inputs in this regard.

Furthermore, one national and international consultant each will be appointed to compile the proposals and draft amendments to the Act.

The purpose of amending the act is to enable the National Council on Disaster Management and the Disaster Management Centre to implement their functions in a more vibrant and collaborative manner.


Locally assembled vehicles to be exempted from the payment of excise duty

Cabinet granted approval to a memorandum submitted by the Minister of Industrial Development, Kumara Welgama and the Minister of Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion, Sarath Amunugama, to exclude motor vehicles with higher engine capacity and fuel consumption from exemption of excise duty other than the vehicles assembled/manufactures by BOI projects exclusively for the export market.

Trust Fund for Early Childhood Care and Development

Cabinet granted approval to a memorandum submitted by the Minister of Child Development and Women's Empowerment, Sumedha G. Jayasena to establish a trust fund for early childhood care and development with an initial contribution of Rs. 400m.

Accordingly, funds will be collected from governmental, non-governmental and other agencies and the interest used to pay allowance to teachers and for any other activities related to early childhood development as approved by a Board constituted for this purpose.


Hostel for Reid Avenue Sports Complex

Cabinet granted approval to a memorandum submitted by the Minister of Sports and Public Recreation, Gamini Lokuge, to allocate the construction of a hostel complex at the Reid Avenue Sports Complex to the State Engineering Corporation.

This hostel will be an integral part in providing facilities to sportsmen and sportswomen to engage in uninterrupted training activities residentially and will consist of a three storey facility.

Anusha Palpita
Director of Government Information