313.3.2008
Seruwila Scread Area Planning Scheme
Mr.Dinesh Gunawardena, Minister of Urban Development &
Sacred Area Development Cabinet granted approval to a memorandum
submitted by Dinesh Gunawardena, Minister of Urban Development
& Sacred Area Development for the development and restoration
of the proposed Seruwila Mangala Raja Maha Viharaya, which
has been declared a World Heritage Site.
The National Physical Planning Department, which under the
ministry, has allocated Rs. 30 million from its annual budget
for 2008. Accordingly, funds will be released to improve
the existing viharaya as per the estimate submitted by the
State Engineering Corporation; Rs. 22,384,703.77 and the
balance money available under this project (Rs. 6.0 million)
is to be allocated for completion of repairs in the Preaching
Hall.
Purchasing
Cement for Sri Lanka Cement Corporation
ImageCabinet
granted approval to a memorandum submitted by Kumara Welgama,
Minister of Industrial Development for the purchasing
of cement for Sri Lanka Cement Corporation.
Since the closure of the Cement Factory at Kankesanturai
due to the security situation, Sri Lanka Cement Corporation
(SLCC) had to buy cement from other local as well as international
sources and supply it to the local market.
However, these trading activities almost ceased in January
2006 due to various reasons. Presently, there is a severe
shortage of cement at regulated price in the market. It
appears that unscrupulous trading practices due to absence
of state players in the market have aggravated the situation.
To
overcome this situation a Standard Cabinet Appointed Procurement
Committee (SCAPC) was appointed by the Cabinet. Accordingly,
SCAPC called for world wide tenders to purchase cement
for SLCC.
Government will reach an agreement with M/s. American
Global Partner (USA) Inc. at a. price of US $ 74 per Metric
Ton for a total of 300,000 mlt of cement to be supplied
over a period of 12 months in 24 consignments.
SLCC
will accept the performance bond of 2% of the value of
single consignment for the transaction of supplying 300,000
mlt of cement.
SLCC
will furnish a 100% at sight revolving Letter of Credit
for one Shipment of 12,500 mlt until the completion of
transaction.
Establishment of a Presidential Task Force for Local Food
Production
ImageCabinet
granted approval to a memorandum submitted by Maithripala
Sirisena, Minister of Agriculture Development and Agrarian
Services for the establishment of a Presidential Task
Force for Local Food Production.
In
the context of the current global economy there is a tendency
of rapidly increasing food prices in both local and international
markets. It has been observed that the situation may be
further aggravated causing a food crisis in the near future
with heavy drain on foreign exchange for food imports.
At
the deliberations held with the ministers of agriculture
of respective countries during recent SAARC Ministerial
Conference in India it was understood that those countries
are making arrangements to totally block the main food
imports causing many problems for Sri Lanka in the process
of main food imports at higher prices.
The
only alternative available to face this adverse global
situation is to increase the substitutes for main food
imports. Therefore it is essential to further strengthen
the "Api Wawamu-Rata Nagamu" cultivation drive
launched by the Ministry of Agriculture Development and
Agrarian Services for promoting local food production,
the memorandum stated.
This
cultivation campaign could be made productive and meaningful
if the same is to be put under guidance and supervision
by a Special Task Force headed by the President, it was
stated.
Special
Task Force will consist of the following Ministries,
I.
Ministry of Agriculture Development and Agrarian Services.
II. Ministry of Land and Land Development.
III. Ministry of Irrigation and Water Management.
IV. Ministry of Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure
Development.
v. Ministry of Supplementary Plantation Crop Development.
VI. Ministry of Livestock Development.
VII. Ministry of Plantation Industries.
VIII. Ministry of Public Estate Management and Development.
IX. Ministry of Transport.
x. Ministry of Education.
XI. Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.
XII. Provincial Ministries of Agriculture
Second
Phase of Upgrading the Disaster Response Network in Sri
Lanka through Foreign Assistance
ImageCabinet granted approval to the joint memorandum
submitted by Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Disaster
Management and Human Rights and Janaka Bandara Tennakoon,
for the second phase of upgrading the disaster response
network in Sri Lanka through foreign assistance.
With
the assistance of ORET Mixed Credit Programme the Ministry
of Local. Government and Provincial Councils is now implementing
a project for upgrading the disaster response network
in 18 Urban Local Authorities and the Ministry of Disaster
Management & Human Rights is also implementing a Disaster
Management Project to improve emergency preparedness and
response by setting up a 24x7 Operation Centre, 50 Early
Warning Towers and 10 Emergency Operation Centres as Phase
1 of the Early Warning System Project.
Within
the framework of the Road Map to Safer Sri Lanka developed
by the Disaster Management Center, the Dutch International.
Center for Emergency Techniques (ICET) has proposed a
project to the Ministry of Local. Government & Provincial
Councils and Ministry of Disaster Management & Human
Rights the to be implemented as the Second Phase of the
Project for upgrading The Disaster Response Network in
Sri Lanka with a total cost of 46,335,993 Euro financed
by Rabobank International TCE Export Finance through the
Government of the Netherlands.
The
proposed project incluce the following components:
1.
Expanding the current Emergency Response Systems (ERS)
by upgrading and establishing 14 fire and rescue stations
in addition to the 18 such stations to be developed under
the ongoing project
2. Provision of emergency treatment equipment and BLS
Ambulance for 12 hospitals
3. Provision of additional. 50 alarm towers and communication
and alarm equipment for 15 Emergency Operation Centers
4. Provision of communication equipments and transport
vehicles for 15 Emergency Operation Centers
5. Services to implement, maintain training its operators
Amendments
to the Fauna and Flora protection ordinance
ImageCabinet
granted approval to a memorandum submitted by Champika
Ranawaka, Minister of Environment & Natural Resources
for the amendment to the Fauna & Flora protection
Ordinance.
Minister
Ranawaka is proposing amendments to the Fauna & Flora
protection Ordinance to meet the timely needs of the country
and differed for further consideration of the observation
of the Minister of Lands & Land Development and the
Minister of Indigenous Medicine.
Further
discussions have been held with all the parties concerned
on this matter and the proposals deemed to be incorporated
into the amendments of the ordinance.
Anusha
Palpita
Director of Government Information