Thursday, 06 September 2007

Concessions for low income public

The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is also the Minister of Finance and Planning, on providing concessions for those who are badly affected by the fuel price hike. Accordingly, fishermen who utilize the kerosene powered boats and Samurdhi recipients without the electricity facility will be benefited.

It has been estimated that there are 16,036 kerosene-fuelled fishing boats. Considering their difficulties with regard to the fuel price hike, these fishermen will be provided with a kerosene subsidy of Rs. 4,000 for each boat only for the month of August 2007. There are 641,520 Samurdhi recipient families who utilize kerosene instead of electricity. It has been decided to provide each family a subsidy of Rs. 100 for a month. This will be initiated from this month. An estimated amount of Rs. 320.6 million will be spent for these subsidies.

Industrial Disputes Act to be amended

The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by Labour Relations and Manpower Minister Hon. Athauda Seneviratne on the amendment to the Industrial Disputes Act. Hon. Attorney General said that the provisions of the draft Bill are not inconsistent with the Constitution and not subject to any prohibitions or restrictions imposed by the 13th Amendment to the Constitution and may be enacted by Parliament. The Cabinet granted its approval to Gazette the Bill and present it in Parliament The Bill extends the period granted for a workman to make an application under the Industrial Disputes Act from three months to six months.

Amendment to the Termination of Employment of Workmen Act

The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by Labour Relations and Manpower Minister Hon. Athauda Seneviratne on the amendment to Termination of Employment of Workmen Special Provisions Act. Hon. Attorney General said that the provisions of the draft Bill are not inconsistent with the Constitution and not subject to any prohibitions or restrictions imposed by the 13th Amendment to the Constitution and may be enacted by Parliament. The Cabinet granted its approval to Gazette the Bill and present it in Parliament. The Bill contains provisions to extend the period granted for a workman to make a termination application from three months to six months.

Establishment of UNIVOTEC

The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by Vocational and Technical Training Minister Hon. Piyasena Gamage on the draft Bill for the establishment of University of Vocational Technology (UNIVOTEC). A large number of school leavers seek tertiary level educational prospects in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training ((TVET) system. The main objective of the establishment of the UNIVOTEC is to assist in the progressive development of students in the TVET system to acquire university degree and to provide avenues for middle level persons to go up to technology degree level. The Cabinet granted its approval to submit the draft Bill to the Parliament.Provision of revenue to local authorities without impediment

Provision of revenue to local authorities without impediment

The Cabinet has granted its approval to a Memorandum submitted by Local Government and Provincial Council Minister Hon. Janka Bandara Tennakoon on the provision of legitimate revenue to local authorities without impediments. Fines imposed by the Court for offences prescribed under the governing legislations of local authorities and the stamp duties on land transactions had been the sources of income for them even before the establishment of Provincial Councils. After the 13th Amendment to the Constitution these revenues have been credited to Provincial Fund. According to the 2004 report of the Finance Commission, the amount due as arrears of stamp duty and court fines to the local authorities from all Provincial Councils exceeds Rs. 09 billion. Therefore the Cabinet has granted its approval to take steps to reimburse the revenue to local authorities.

Anusha Palpita
Director of Government Information