Cabinet Decisions | Daily News

Cabinet Decisions

01. Declaration of new boundaries of Ampara Ggame Reserve

Gal Oya Valley North Eastern Game Reserve / Wildlife Sanctuary or Ampara Game Reserve with a land area of 9,323.96 hectares in extent has been declared a game reserve / park in the year 1954 subject to Wild Life Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance. Thereafter, Ampara town was established as an urban centre under Gal Oya Colonization Project is at present highly developed. Therefore, in terms of the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers on May 20, 2009 approval was granted to demarcate new boundaries separating the plots of land recognized as developed due to some of the plots of land being developed for establishing public facilities of the government and affiliated to the government such as urban council playgrounds, shrines etc, as well as certain plots of land being allocated to private parties and developed with the State sponsorship by now in Ampara urban plan from the sanctuary. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Wild Life and Forest Conservation to further maintain the portion of land with the natural vegetation, where wild life including wild elephants are as a portion of the sanctuary, while separating the portion of 46.18 hectares in this area, which is already highly populated and developed, to publish the new amendments of boundaries in the government gazette and table the same in the Parliament for approval.

02. Enhancing the national traffic database and capacity building

With the escalation of traffic on roads, a requirement has been erupted for establishing a mechanism to manage the traffic on road on national highways; especially on the roads within the Colombo city. Therefore, a request from Korean International Corporation Agency KOICA has been already made through the Department of External Resources to obtain assistance to update the existing data of the Road Development Authority. It has been expected to prepare a national level traffic transport data management plan by the Ministry of Highways under the proposed programme, to establish a base for collecting data on traffic transport, to create an automatic traffic transport database management system, and to enhance the capability of analysing the traffic transport demand. The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the proposal of the Minister of Highways to implement the ‘Project to Enhance the National Traffic Transport Database and Capacity Building’ requesting a grant from the Korean International Corporation Agency (KOICA) and to sign a discussion report between Korean International Corporation Agency (KOICA) and the Ministry of Highways ensuring the implementation of the said project.

03. The agreement on custom corporation and mutual administrative assistance between Sri Lanka and Vietnam

As a result of bilateral discussions held between the governments of Sri Lanka and Vietnam it has been proposed to enter into an agreement between Sri Lanka and Vietnam to exchange custom corporation and mutual administrative assistance between the two countries. Accordingly, this agreement may assist to reduce the trade transaction cost, accurate calculation and collection of taxes related to territories, banning the exchange of goods subject to limitations and imposing limitations and control regulation. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the proposal submitted by the Minister of Finance to enter into the proposed agreement entered into by both parties.

04. Submission of the interim report of the Committee appointed on digital banking, blockchain technology and Cryptocurrency

Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted on October 5, 2021 for the appointment of a committee to submit recommendations to the Cabinet of Ministers on the rules and regulations that can be imposed for attracting investments to the companies related to on digital banking, blockchain technology and Cryptocurrency. Accordingly, a committee comprised of eight (8) members chaired by Sujeewa Mudaligewere was appointed for the purpose. The

interim committee report submitted by that committee was tabled at this meeting for the attention of the Cabinet of Ministers. The Cabinet of Ministers granted their consent for the proposal furnished by the Minister of Development Coordination and Supervision to submitthe final report of the Committee on June 30, 2022 and to appoint two other technical professionals engaged in the relevant field for assisting the Committee.

05. Progress in implementing large scale development projects by the end of the third quarter 2021

During the year 2021, 332 large scale development projects exceeding Rs. 1,000 million are being implemented under 47 Ministries. The period of these projects runs until 2030 and the total investment value is Rs. 6,899 billion. Of these, 95 projects worth Rs. 2,642 billion are new projects launched in 2021 to achieve the objectives of the Government Policy Framework Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour. Under this, projects related to health, education, supply of drinking water, road , irrigation system improvement and rural and urban development have been initiated. The Covid 19 epidemic in the country has hampered the smooth functioning of these projects, and also shortage of building materials and labor, restrictions on imports and restrictions on immigration. However, 63% of the targeted expenditure of Rs. 448 billion was spent on projects during the quarter. Progress review meetings are held monthly to expedite issues related to such projects so that they can be implemented within the targeted timeframes and their benefits delivered to the public. Accordingly the cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal made by the Minister of Development, Coordination and Supervision to obtain the participation of senior officials from the Ministry of Economic Policy and Plan Implementation, Ministry of Finance and other government agencies for these meetings.

06. Green Power Development and Energy Efficiency Improvement Investment Project - Development of Ambalangoda and Pannala Grid substations

The ‘Green Power Development and Energy Efficiency Improvement Investment Project’ is being implemented under the auspices of the Asian Development Bank. Under the 8 package lot B of the project, it is planned to supply two additional transformers and upgrade the Ambalangoda and Pannala grid substations. For this, national competitive bids have been invited under the single stage double cover system and 4 bids have been submitted. Accordingly the cabinet of ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Power and Energy to award the relevant contract to Sealux Engineering (Pvt) Ltd as per the recommendation of the Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee.

07. Purchase of machinery for the two eco-friendly bio-organic fertilizer plants proposed to be constructed at the Pelwatta and Sevanagala units of Lanka Sugar Company Pvt. Ltd.

The Cabinet approval has been granted on September 13, 2021 for the implementation of the project to construct two eco-friendly bio-organic fertilizer factories in the Pelwatta and Sevanagala units of Lanka Sugar Company (Pvt) Ltd. Such organic fertilizer factories have not yet been functioned in Sri Lanka and therefore, the necessary machinery and equipment should be procured from a foreign manufacturer. Accordingly the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Plantations to procure the said machinery from the identified Chinese company Dongting Lake International following the direct procurement methodology.

08. Procurement of container handling equipment

Cabinet approval has been granted on March 29, 2021 for the purchase of 14 ship-to-land cranes, 40 rail-mounted automatic gantry cranes and 30 container trucks for the Sri Lanka Ports Authority Eastern Container Terminal. International Competitive Bids have been invited and 6 bids have been received. Accordingly the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Ports and Shipping to award the procurement for the purchase of 12 ship-to-land cranes and 40 automatic gantry cranes mounted on rails to Shanghai Shenuma Heavy Industries on the recommendation of the Procurement Appeals Board.

09. Colombo Port Eastern Container Terminal - Phase II- Civil Works

Cabinet approval has been granted to develop the Eastern Container Terminal in stages as a terminal totally operated by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. Accordingly, international competitive bids have been invited for Phase II of the Eastern Container Terminal at the Colombo Port. 3 bids have been received for this purpose. Accordingly the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Ports and Shipping to award the said procurement to Access Engineering Company and China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd on the recommendation of the Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee.

10. Submission of Regulations issued under the Import and Export (Control) Act No. 1 of 1969 for Parliamentary approval

Regulation under the Import Export Act have been enacted on November 3, 2021 to meet the local demand for rice and to provide the people with affordable rice at affordable prices without any shortage of rice in the market. Accordingly, the Cabinet of ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Finance to present these regulation in the Parliament.

 

 


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