13-09-2007

Government to fund M.phil/Ph.D Programme

The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapaksa on the development proposal for funding for M.phil/PhD Training Programme. Science and Technology status of a country is the backbone of its development strategy. This fact is amply demonstrated not only by the high living standards of the people in the developed countries but also the rapid development achieved by the newly industrialized countries. They have invested huge capital from the GDP to produce highly trained scientists. In contrast, the successive governments in Sri Lanka since independence, paid only very little attention to the development of the science and technology base. An important area in which Sri Lanka compares poorly with the other major countries in the region is post-graduate education, particularly, research-based higher education.

This has serious implications for future human resources development in the field of science and technology and is responsible for not having the critical mass of S & T expertise in the fields of strategic importance to our national development. In order to address this problem the NRC, established under a Presidential Directive proposes to undertake funding, monitoring and successful completion of 500 PhDs in 10 years. The discipline in which the proposed PhD training will include Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Bio-chemistry, Molecular Genetics, Medical Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, Veterinary and Dental Sciences, Geological Sciences, Marine Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Information Technology, Engineering Sciences, Bio-technology and Nanotechnology. Successful implementation of the programme will have enormous impact on the Science and Technology capacity of the country and will establish a critical mass of scientists in all disciplines and initiate research in areas relevant to the development of the country. Therefore, the Cabinet has granted its approval to implement the academic programme to produce 500 PhDs during the decade of development from next year investing Rs. 4,652 million.

Dambulla and Nuwara-Eliya to get High Courts

The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by Justice and Law Reforms Minister Hon. Amarasiri Dodangoda on the construction of High Courts in Dambulla and Nuwara-Eliya. The phenomenal increase in the number of cases at District level and the difficulties experienced by the general public in travelling long distances to such courts led to the decision to increase the number of High Courts. In pursuant to the decision, the Cabinet at its meeting held on 20th June 2007, decided to establish two High Courts in Dambulla and Nuwara-Eliya. Therefore, the Cabinet has granted its approval to award the contract to construct these two High Courts to the Central Engineering and Consultancy Bureau.

Medical Ordinance to be amended

The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Hon. Nimal Siripala De Silva on the amendment to the Medical Ordinance. The Assistant Medical Officers receive a Certificate of Efficiency from the Sri Lanka Medical College Council (SLMC) following the conclusion of their three year-training programme. They have been requesting a Diploma instead of the Efficiency Certificate for a considerable period of time. The SLMC has recommended this request with retrospective effect. Therefore, the Cabinet has granted its approval to amend the Medical Ordinance to enable the SLMC to award Diploma in Medical Sciences instead of Certificate of Efficiency or Proficiency and to issue Diploma Certificates to those who have already been conferred with Certificates with retrospective effect.

Lubricant market to be liberalized

The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by Petroleum and Petroleum Resources Development Minister Hon. A.H.M. Fowzie on the liberalization of lubricant market. The Cabinet had taken a decision in January to enter into Lubricant Agreement with six parties who have the brand ownership. Agreements were signed by the Government with the five out of six parties after completing the required legal documentation. The sixth party, the Total S A France has not singed the agreement. Therefore, the Cabinet has granted its approval to enter into Lubricant Agreements with Totalfinaelf India Ltd. who have obtained the Power of Attorney from Total S A France to use the brand name as well as with Toyota Tsusho Corporation to engage in the lubricant business in Sri Lanka.

Godagama to have wholesale centre for building materials

The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Minister Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena and Trade, Marketing Development, Cooperatvies and Consumer Services Minister Hon. Bandula Gunawardena on the development of a wholesale centre for building materials at Godagama. The Cabinet has granted its approval for the development of this centre, utilizing 25 acres of low-lying land and to acquire 25 acres of abandoned paddy lands.

Independence Square to be developed

The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Minister Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena on the development of Independence Square and its surroundings. This project will be implemented in 8 phases. The Cabinet has granted its approval to vest two parcels of with the Urban Development Authority to implement the envisaged project at Independence Square.

Establishment of a Project Development Office

The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by Supplementary Plantation Crops Development Hon. R.M. Dharmadasa Banda on the establishment of a Project Development Office. At present only 10 percent of national requirement of sugar is produced locally. During early nineties four sugar factories were in operation. Thus 20% of self-sufficiency was achieved. In realizing the vision of 50% self-sufficiency in sugar by the year 2015, intensive investment promotions and facilitation are essential. A project office is necessary in providing all information services relating to project development together with all aspects associated with socio-economic and infrastructure development. Therefore, the Cabinet has granted its approval to establish a Project Development Office at the Ministry of Supplementary Plantation Crops Development for two years and appoint necessary officers and staffs.

Media Ministry to take over SLTTI

The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by Mass Media and Information Minister Hon. Anura Priyadharshana Yapa on the taking over of Sri Lanka Television Training Institute (SLTTI) under the Ministry of Mass Media and Information. The SLTTI was established as a centre for training of both local and foreign media personnel with the intention of creating a free media culture, presently conducts courses in the fields of television, radio, print media and cinema. The objective of taking over of this institute is to expand and make efficient the services provided by it. The Cabinet has granted its approval to the Hon. Minister's proposal that it is opportune moment to run the Institute as an independent body for a short period which will be administered by a Board chaired by the Secretary to the Ministry comprising three eminent scholars in the fields of television, radio and print media as well as a Treasury representative and to re-name the SLTTI as the Sri Lanka Media Training Institute and to register it as a Public Company later.

On-line registration of companies

The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by by Trade, Marketing Development, Cooperatives and Consumer Services Minister Hon. Bandula Gunawardena on the on-line registration of companies. The legal provisions for the registration of companies have been improved and a New Company Law was enacted by the Parliament last year. The new law provides a large array of facilities for entrepreneurs to set up companies under corporate activities in the country. Although the Company's Act and the legal provisions made under it are parallel to laws in the modern world, the Company Registrar's Office is yet handling the registration of companies in the same manner that they processed registrations in the 1930s and 1940s. Therefore, the benefits that were created through the new law have not yet been passed down to the end-user. With this in mind, it approval was granted to computerize the registration process and to assist the end-user to register a company within a single day by using a web-based on-line registration system.

Meteorological complexes at Polonnaruwa and Moneragala

The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister Hon. Mahinda Samarasinghe on the construction of Meteorological Observation Complexes at Polonnaruwa and Moneragala. The Department of Meteorology issues weather forecasts and warnings, provides other services for national needs and fulfils international obligations. There are no meteorological observation centres at Polonnaruwa and Moneragala, two agriculturally important districts, which are vulnerable for droughts. Therefore, setting up of new meteorological centres in these districts is a long over-due national need. Therefore, the Cabinet has granted its approval for the construction of these stations to Central Engineering and Consultancy Bureau.

Buildings for Akkaraipattu Technical College

The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by Vocational and Technical Training Minister Hon. Piyasena Gamage on the construction of academic buildings for the Akkaraipattu Technical College. This College was established in 2005, in a building of the Provincial Education Office. Due to the inadequacy of buildings, staff and other facilities it could not operate at the expected level. It is an urgent necessity to provide this College with new building facilities.Rs.30 million has already been allocated for this construction. Therefore, the Cabinet has granted its approval to construct four-storied workshop/class room block together with the connecting bridge access to the adjoining building. The Central Engineering and Consultancy Bureau.

"Thuru Sevana" sales centres to be handed over to local bodies

The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by Rural Industries and Self-Employment Promotion Minister Hon. S.B. Nawinna on the handing over of Thuru Sevana Sales Promotion Centres which are being operated under the Ministry of Rural Industries and Self-Employment Promotion to local government authorities. These centres are functioning in fourteen areas. The review of operational activities of these centres over the past three years has shown that they could do much better if they are handed over to the local government authorities of the respective areas rather than leaving them under the purview of administration of Divisional Secretariats. Therefore, the Cabinet has granted its approval to hand over the Thuru Sevana sales promotion centres to the local government institutions of the areas.

Anusha Palpita
Director of Government Information