5.6.2008
Negombo
Water Supply Scheme to be rehabilitated and augmented
H.E
The President Mahinda Rajapaksa Cabinet granted approval
to a memorandum submitted by President Mahinda Rajapaksa
in his capacity as the Minister of Finance and Planning,
to enter into a grant agreement with the Government of
the Netherlands for a sum of Euro 19,656,418 to part finance
the augmentation and rehabilitation of the Negombo Water
Supply Scheme.
Accordingly Cabinet granted approval to enter into a Loan
Agreement with ING Bank N.V. of the Netherlands to borrow
the balance portion of Euro 16,673,763 for which a proposal
has already been submitted.
The Government of the Netherlands has agreed to finance
the project under its Development Related Export Transaction
(ORET). Of the Contract sum of Euro 36,330,181 the Netherlands
Government will provide 54% of Euro 19,656,418 and grant
funding under this Programme. The balance amount of Euro
16,673,763 will be provided by ING Bank N.V. of the Netherlands.
Cabinet approval was also granted to lend the proceeds
of the grant and loan to the National Water Supply and
Drainage Board on terms acceptable to the Treasury.
The proposed project will involve the construction of
a water treatment plant with the capacity to process 12,000
cubic meters per day, two ground reservoirs with capacities
of 3,000 and 1,500 cubic meters, laying of 15.5 km long
transmission mains, new distribution system to Kochchikade
and Duwapitipana, improving the existing distribution
system, supply and installation of pumps and equipment.
The total number of new connections to be provided under
the project is 50,000.
The
project will be implemented by the National Water Supply
and Drainage Board.
Higher
Defence Management Legislation
Cabinet granted approval to a memorandum submitted by
President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his capacity as Minister
of Defence, Public Security, Law and Order, to direct
the Legal Draftsmen to expeditiously prepare draft legislation
for higher defence management in accordance with the proposed
draft legislation that has been prepared by the Ministry
of Defence, Public Security, Law and Order.
Based on comprehensive research and analysis, the Office
of Strategic Affairs of the Ministry of Defence Public
Security, Law and Order has prepared a proposal for draft
legislation for this purpose.
The primary objective of the proposed legislation would
be to provide for stable, efficient, transparent and accountable
Higher Defence Management and Public Security Management;
the effective strategic direction of the armed forces;
and the joint operations of the armed forces. In order
to achieve this primary objective, the proposed legislation
provides for the establishment of several bodies within
the defence and public security establishment.
Construction
of Negombo Courts Complex
ImageCabinet granted approval to a memorandum submitted
by the Minister of Justice and Law Reforms, Amarasiri
Dodangoda, to award the contract for the construction
of buildings pertaining to the Negombo Court Complex to
the State Engineering Corporation for Rs. 786,493,513,80.
Pile driving which forms the first stage of the construction
of the Complex has already been completed.
Civil
administration of Kokilar transferred to Padavi Sri Pura
DS
ImageCabinet granted approval to a memorandum submitted
by Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs,
Karu Jayasuriya to transfer civil administration of the
fisheries village, Kokilai, to the Divisional Secretariat,
Padavi Sri Pura on a temporary basis until the security
situation of the area improves.
Although Kokilai village is at present attached to the
Assistant Government Agent's Division, Maritime pattu
in Mullativu district, this village is geographically
very close to the Divisional Secretariat's Division of
Padavi Sri Pura in Trincomalee District.
Due to the security situation in the area, it is very
difficult to maintain civil administration by the Assistant
Government Agent's Division, Maritime Pattu. However,
the Divisional Secretariat, Padavi Sri Pura can easily
carry out same function under the present context, it
was decided.
Nikapitiyagama
and Medagoda administration entrusted to DS Wellavaya
Cabinet granted approval to a memorandum submitted by
Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs, Karu
Jayasuriya to entrust all administrative functions of
Nikayapitiyagama and Medagoda villages which are at present
governed under the Divisional Secretariat, Haldummulla
in Badulla district, to the Wellawaya Divisional Secretariat
in the Monaragala district.
The
Nikapitiyagama and Medagoda villages, situated at the
boundary of Badulla and Monaragala districts, are actually
attached to the Divisional Secretariat, Wellawaya. However
several functions including all administrative activities
have been carried out for a considerable period by the
Divisional Secretariat, Haldummulla in the Badulla District
for the convenience of people living in these villages.
People of the area are facing with serious difficulties
in getting their administrative needs satisfied as administration
and maintenance of voters registers are carried out by
different districts. Accordingly, a considerable number
of requests have been received from the public of the
area to entrust all functions including administrative
activities of Nikapitiyagama and Medagoda villages to
the Wellawaya Divisional Secretariat, Monaragala.
New
Building Complex for Puttalam District Secretariat
Cabinet
granted approval to a memorandum submitted by the Minister
of Public Administration and Home Affairs, Karu Jayasuriya,
to direct the Treasury to allocate Rs. 150m, Rs. 200m
and Rs. 100m respectively for the years 2000, 2010 and
2011 adding up to a total of Rs. 450 million for the construction
of a District Secretariat in Puttalam.
The
new building complex will consist of modern facilities
and cater to the constantly increasing necessities in
the Puttalam District. In 2007 a sum of Rs. 75 million
was allocated for the project which could not take off
due to a variety of reasons. As a result the monies were
directed to other capital projects in the District.
Stiffer
Penalties for Illegal Cattle Slaughter and Transport
ImageCabinet
granted approval to a memorandum submitted by the Minister
of Livestock Development, R.M.C.B. Rathnayake to publish
a draft bill that has been approved by the Attorney General,
to increase the penalties for illegally slaughtering and
transporting cattle as per the Animals Act No. 29 of 1958.
This
measure has been proposed since the rate of cattle and
buffalo slaughter has exceeded the natural growth rate
of the animals.