28.3.2008
Protection for victims
and witnesses
Cabinet granted approval to a memorandum submitted by
President Mahinda Rajapaksa to enact legislation to protect
victims of crimes as well as witnesses to the same.
The proposed legislation will be designed to ensure that
the rights of victims and witnesses are safeguarded in
accordance to internationally accepted norms, standards
and frameworks.
Further,
it was decided to set up an authority to ensure that these
measures are implemented fully and satisfactorily and
moreover to establish a special unit in the Police Department
for this purpose. Finally, a special fund is to be established
to protect and support victims and witnesses.
Contract
for design and reconstruction of Gintota Maha Vidyalaya,
Galle
Cabinet
granted approval to a memorandum submitted by the Minister
of Education, Susil Premjayanth to grant the contract
to design and reconstruct Gintota Maha Vidyalaya, Galle
to the State Engineering Corporation.
This
school, which was destroyed in the tsunami was to be rebuilt
by funds provided by UNESCO. However due to the unavailability
of a suitable plot of land, this could not be done. It
was therefore decided to rebuild the school at the same
location.
UNICEF
has allocated Rs. 125m for this purpose.
Development of newly
acquired land for the Gampaha Botanical Gardens
Cabinet
granted approval to a memorandum submitted by the Minister
of Sports and Entertainment, Gamini Lokuge, to develop
land newly acquired by the Gampaha Henarathgoda Botanical
Gardens.
These
Botanical Gardens cover an area of 42 acres and contains
over 2000 species of plants from various countries. A
plot of land 7 acres in extent has been acquired to expand
the Gardens. It is envisaged than access is developed
from the Gampaha-Ja Ela main road.
A
boat service is to be launched soon on the newly constructed
lake. Also, a ferry service is to be established to enable
people to visit the Gardens along the Attanagalu Oya.
A ticket counter and a gate will also be constructed soon.
Efficient
development of tea smallholdings and provision of infrastructural
facilities
Cabinet
granted approval to a memorandum submitted by Plantation
Industries Minister, D.M. Jayaratne for a more efficient
development of tea small holdings and to provide necessary
infrastructural facilities.
A
special project under the Maha Neguma programme of the
Ministry of Nation Building is to be launched to rehabilitate
and develop roads in the tea smallholdings sector. All
smallholders will be registered in accordance with relevant
provisions in the Tea Control Act and the Tea Board Act,
provided with a number and an ID.
Furthermore,
steps will be taken by the Department of Census and Statistics
to update information on the extent of land under tea
smallholdings.
New building for Geological
Survey and Mines Bureau
Cabinet
granted approval to a memorandum submitted by Environment
and Natural Resources Minister, Patali Champika Ranawaka
to construct a new building for the Geological Survey
and Mines Bureau.
A
100 perch block of land belonging to the State Timber
Corporation has been allocated for this purpose. The cost
of construction will amount to Rs. 350m and the Bureau
has the necessary funds to cover this.
The
construction will be undertaken by the Land Reclamation
and Development Corporation.
Allowance for Ayurvedic physicians to be increased
Cabinet
approved a memorandum submitted by the Minister of Indigenous
Medicine, Tissa Karalliyadda to increase the allowance
currently paid to specialist Ayurvedic physicians.
Accordingly
the daily Rs.500 allowance paid to newly recruited physicians
will be increased to Rs. 1000. The gratuity paid on retirement
will also be raised to Rs. 25,000 per year of service
from the current Rs. 2500.
It
was also decided to develop a systematic procedure to
recruit new physicians on a permanent basis with pensionable
salaries.
A
new Eye Care Unit for Lady Ridgeway Hospital
Cabinet
granted approval to a memorandum submitted by the Ministry
of Health, Nimal Siripala de Silva, to set up a new eye
care unit at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital.
Accordingly,
the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau will undertake
the construction of this 4 stories building. The total
cost will amount to approximately Rs 66.5 m.
New
building for Southern Province Development Authority
Cabinet
granted approval to a memorandum submitted by President
Mahinda Rajapaksa in his capacity as Minister of Nation
Building and Estate Infrastructure Development to construct
the a office complex for the Southern Province Development
Authority.
The
Authority is currently located in a private building in
Nupe, Matara for which a monthly rent of Rs. 75,000 has
to be paid. The Matara District office also involves incurring
a rent of Rs. 35,000 a month.
The
construction of the new building will cost Rs. 50 million.
Courtesy
- Government Information