Thursday, 20 September 2007

Cancellation of earlier nominations and calling for fresh Nominations and holding election in Northern Province.

The cabinet has granted its approval to a memorandum submitted by Hon. Janaka Banadara Tennakoon as the Minister of Local Government and Provincial Councils to provide provisions for canceling nominations and calling of fresh nominations and the holding of elections in respect of one Municipal Councils, five Urban Councils and twenty seven Pradeshiya Sabhas in the Northern Province where elections to such councils and sabhas have been postponed due to unforeseen and urgent circumstances.

It also allows the voters who reasonably fear that due conditions prevailing in the area within which his polling station is situated, that he is unable to cast his vote at such polling stations, or voters who are displaced, to cast their vote at another polling station as many be determined by the Commissioner.

Funds to develop Navodya and Plantation Schools

The cabinet has granted its approval to a memorandum submitted by Hon.A.D. Susil Premajayantha as the Minister of Education to disburse funds allocated annually for development of Navodya Schools directly to the Provincial Councils by the Finance Commission on the recommendation of the Ministry of Education with effect from year 2008 while the coordination of the respective activities is carried out by the Navodya School Development Unit of the line Ministry.

And also to disburse the funds allocated annually for development of Plantation schools directly to the Provincial Councils by the Finance Commission on the recommendation of the Ministry of Education with effect from year 2008 while the coordination of the respective activities is continued by the Plantation School Development Unit of the line Ministry.

During the last five year’s period Rs.1075 million has been spent to develop 394 schools under this project.

Amendments to the Grant of Citizenship to stateless persons Act No. 39 of 1988 and Grant of Citizenship to persons of Indian Origin Act No. 35 of 2003.

The cabinet has granted its approval to a memorandum submitted by Hon. Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka Prime Minister to amend relevant sections of the entitlement of Citizenship of the Grant of Citizenship to Stateless Persons Act No. 39 of 1988 and Grant of Citizenship to persons of Indian Origin Act No. 35 of 2003.

Approximately 80,000 Sri Lankans have fled to India as refugees due to the 1983 July disturbances and the internal conflict which arose thereafter. It is reported that approximately 28,500 of them are Sri Lankans of Indian origin and some of them have not yet obtained Sri Lankan Citizenship. The amendment would enable them to obtain Sri Lankan citizenship to return to Sri Lanka.

Convention to give effect to the UN and SAARC Conventions on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances

The cabinet has granted its approval to a memorandum submitted by His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Minister of Defence, Public Security, Law and Order to publish a bill which provides necessary provisions to enable Sri Lanka to deal with the international UN and SAARC Conventions on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances

A convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances was adopted in 1988 UN Conference in Vienna and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation adopted the Convention at their fifth summit and signed in Male in 1990.

Shopping Complex and Pradeshiya Sabha Building in Monaragala District.

The cabinet has granted its approval to a memorandum submitted by His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Minister of Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development to entrust the construction work of Buttala Shopping Complex and Pradeshiya Sabha Building to the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau without calling tenders at the estimated amount of a sum of Rs.86,568,029.63.

It has been decided to develop small cities as economic centers under Uva wellassa Development Programme in coincide with the Jathika Saviya- Gama Neguma Programme.

Fish Market and Shopping Complex in Wellawaya.

The cabinet has granted its approval to a memorandum submitted by His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Minister of Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development to construct the two storied building for the Fish Market and Shopping Complex in Wellawaya utilizing funds of Fisheries Housing and Infrastructure facilities development unit of Ministry of Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development.

The development work will be continued through Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau at an estimated sum of Rs.66.3 million.

The maintenance and administration of this work of this building will be entrusted to Wellawaya Pradeshiya Sabha after the completion of this building and vesting to public.

Cereal cum warehouse complex at Galewela.

The cabinet has granted its approval to a memorandum submitted by Hon. Dinesh Gunawardana as the Minister of Urban Development and Sacred Area Development to release Rs.50 million of Treasury funds to meet the cost of land acquisition and provision of infrastructure facilities for the development of Cereal cum warehouse complex at Galewela under the Greater Dambulla development plan.

Also the approval to implement the commercial viable projects through the Peliyagoda Warehouse Complex Co. Ltd which is a UDA owned subsidiary company was also granted.

Administrative Complex at Battaramulla Sethsiripaya Stage ii.

The cabinet has granted its approval to a memorandum submitted by Hon. Dinesh Gunawardana as the Minister of Urban Development and Sacred Area Development to award the contract for piling work of the construction of Administrative Complex at Battaramulla Sethsiripaya Stage ii to M/s Nawaloka Construction Company Limited for a sum of Rs.130,880,953.75 +15% VAT.

Legislation to give effect to the international covenant on civil and political rights.

The cabinet has granted its approval to a memorandum submitted by Hon. Rohitha Bogollagama, Minister of Foreign Affaires to present the International Covenant on Civil and political rights (ICCPR).

The enabling of the legislation is required in order to comply with the judgment of the Supreme Court in Case No. 182/99 and also with undertaking given to the European Union to remain as a beneficiary country under the Special Incentives Arrangement for Sustainable Development and Good Governance.

Pyrolysis Plant to Convert Unsorted Consumer Waste Plastic Materials to Synthetic Crude Oil.

The cabinet has granted its approval to a memorandum submitted by Hon. A.H.M Fowzie to assign a group of officials to visit the Pyrolysis Plant of the Symphony Energy Resources Ltd, which is located in Seattle, USA and prepare a feasibility study report.

A project Committee and a Cabinet Appointed Negotiation Committee will be appointed to evaluate the managerial, technical and financial aspects of the project and prepare the relevant Agreement.

Issue and Sale of flags to rise the National Trust Fund of Artistes.

The cabinet has granted its approval to a memorandum submitted by Hon.Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana as the Minister of Cultural Affaires to design and sell a flag to raise the National Trust Fund of Artistes and to deposit the income so accrued in the Trust Fund and provide welfare to artistes, marginalized and miserable.

Fund for the said Trust Fund is not drawn from the General Treasury and it has already been established with a donation received from the Japanese artiste Mrs.Rumi Aoyoma.

Uniform Material for Students for year 2009.

The cabinet has granted its approval to a memorandum submitted by Hon.A.D.Susil Premajayantha as the Minister of Education to get the total requirement of school material required for year 2009 to be supplied by local manufacturers through the textile weaving process and to get this work started in September 2007 itself through the Ministry of Textile Development.

A total of 10,450,000 Meters of material has been estimated to be required for the year 2009.

Treatment and Rehabilitation of Drug Dependant Persons Bill

The cabinet has granted its approval to a memorandum submitted by His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Minister of Defence, Public Security, Law and Order to publish the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Drug Dependant Persons Bill in the Government Gazette and to present the Bill in Parliament after the lapse of at least 07 days from the date of issue of the said Gazette.

Revitalization of Kantale Sugar Industry.

The cabinet has granted its approval to a memorandum submitted by Hon. R. M. Dharmadasa Banda as the Minister of Supplementary Plantation Crops Development to allocate 1000 acres of lands to Castle AG (pvt) Ltd. incorporating Factory site, staff quarters etc. and to establish a nursery through the Land Commissioner General on long term lease basis based on the valuation of the Government Chief Valuer.

Also the Treasury to sign an agreement with the investor in accordance with draft prepared by the Ministry of Supplementary Plantation Crops Development and approved by Attorney General.

Anusha Palpita
Director of Government Information