17.1.2008
Citizenship to stateless Chinese
The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by the Prime Minister Hon. Ratnasiri Wickremanayaka, who is also the Minister of Internal Administration, on the granting of citizenship to stateless persons of Chinese origin residing in Sri Lanka for a long period. Approximately 200 persons of Chinese origin are permanently residing in Sri Lanka as stateless due to the inability of obtaining Sri Lanka citizenship under the existing law. These persons consist of from the early migrants from China during World Wars I and II as traders, dental technicians and their descendants. Most of the early migrants already passed away. But their descendants who have been born and bred here are permanently residing in this country. Therefore the Cabinet has granted its approval to present the grant of citizenship persons of Chinese origin draft Act to the parliament.
Special housing projects in Ampara District
The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is also the Minister of Nation building and Estate Infrastructure Development, on the proposal for implementation of Special Housing Projects at Kalmunai and Sainthamaruthu Divisional Secretary's Divisions in Ampara District. Taking into consideration the urgent necessity of re-locating the Tsunami affected families presently in occupation of transitional shelters, the Ministry of Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development had taken several measures. Irrewelikandam and Mettuwatta, 10 acres in each and 30 acres in Karawahuwatte have been identified to construct high density multi-storied housing units and G+1 Town houses as the most cost-effective best solution for this purpose. Accordingly, 456 housing units at Irrawelikandam and 666 housing units at Karawahuwatte and 186 housing in Mettuwatta will be constructed by State Development and Construction Corporation and Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau.
Computerizing NIC issuing process
The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by the Prime Minister Hon. Ratnasiri Wickremanayaka, who is also the Minister of Internal Administration, on the accelerated programme for computerizing National Identity Card issuance process. Rs. 363 million (seven percent of the total cost of the project) is expected from the World Bank. The Treasury has agreed to incur the total cost which is Rs. 4,830.6 million.
Fiber Cable Optic Cable network along side railway track
The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by Transport Minister Hon. Dullas Alahapperuma on the setting up of a Fiber Optics Cable network running along-side the railway track. The present network of railway tracks in the country stretches over a broad area of about 1200 kilometres. Private sector companies have made requests to place on them the setting up of Fiber Optic Cables along the railway tracks. It is scrutinized that these requests are presented in this manner basing the feasibility of building a Mass Media Technological Network covering Sri Lanka as well as the railway track and the reserve network that possess a wide scope for the purpose. Therefore, the Cabinet has granted its approval to lease to the private sector for setting up a Fiber Optic Cable Network as an enterprise with the coordination of the State and the Private Sectors and thereby to obtain the permission on policy for the Railways Department to fulfill its Fiber Optic Cable Network requirement by utilizing railway reserves.
Integrated Water Supply Projects
The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by Water Supply and Drainage Minister Hon. A.L.M Athaullah on Makandura, Pannala, Kuliyapitiya integrated water supply project. These towns are undergoing a rapid growth of development with rising of commercial and agriculture-based industrial activities. The population of the project area is about 316,000. This project will be implemented in two stages. The first stage will be completed in 2010 and the second in 2012. Meanwhile, the Cabinet has also granted its approval to another Memorandum submitted by the Hon. Minister on Dankotuwa integrated water supply project. Present Dankotuwa water supply scheme extracts water from Maha Oya and the only treatment method is disinfections. It serves a population of 3000 people. Augmentation of the scheme is underway. The water treatment plant will serve the residential population of Dankotuwa, Wennappuwa and Nattandiya.
Anusha Palpita
Director of Government Information
Courtesy
- Government Information