Cabinet Decisions ( 11.12.2023 )

Delegation of powers to District Secretaries to perform National Disaster Relief Services Centre role

The National Disaster Management Centre was established in 1996 to plan and implement relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction activities under the then Social Services and Social Welfare Ministry.

The institution has been named as the National Disaster Relief Services Centre since 01.01.2007 and has been functioning till now as a Government institution.

The proposal presented by the President in his capacity as the Defence Minister to delegate the necessary powers to the District Secretaries/Government Agents to perform the role of the institution more effectively and efficiently was approved by the Cabinet.

Expeditious decision-making for renewable energy projects

In order to meet the Nationally Determined Contribution targets by 2030, the need to accelerate the implementation of renewable energy projects has been identified. The Cabinet decided on 20.11.2023 that a new system should be introduced for the speedy implementation of renewable energy projects, taking into account the time it takes to implement such projects following the existing methods and the difficulties that interested investors will have to face while working according to those methods.

Accordingly, the Cabinet approved the proposal presented by Power and Energy Minister to appoint a combined standing committee representing the following institutions to take decisions regarding renewable energy projects and monitor whether the relevant institutions implement those decisions efficiently and promptly.

Presidential Secretariat (Chairman of the Committee) Prime Minister’s Office Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies Ministry Investment Promotions Ministry, Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation Ministry, Environment Ministry, Tourism and Lands Ministry, Industries Ministry, Power and Energy Ministry, Irrigation Ministry, Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development Ministry, Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority, Ceylon Electricity Board

Acquisition of land for Rangala Police Station

The Rangala Police station is currently functioning in a building belonging to Gatagahawela Plantation Company on a rental basis. Due to insufficient space in the building, it has become difficult for the officers to perform their duties properly. Therefore, the Cabinet approved the proposal presented by Public Security Minister to acquire a two acre portion of land from the Duckwari Estate belonging to the Udupussellawa Plantation Company to the Sri Lanka Police for the establishment of the Rangala Police Station.

Contract for design and construction of Ratmalana Railway Diesel Power Set Factory

International bids have been invited for awarding the contract for the design and construction of the Ratmalana Railway Diesel Power Set Factory under the Railway Efficiency Improvement Project which is being implemented under Asian Development Bank funds. Out of nine bids submitted for this, two bids have been rejected. The Cabinet Appointed Standing Procurement Committee has submitted its recommendation after evaluating the remaining seven bids.

Accordingly the Cabinet approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Transport and Highways to award the said contract to China Civil Engineering Construction Company who is the lowest responsive bidder in accordance with the recommendation of the Cabinet Appointed Standing Procurement Committee.

Amendments to Partition Law

Approval has been granted by the Cabinet at their meeting held on 25.09.2023 to introduce appropriate revisions to partition law with a view to completing partition cases in an accelerated manner.

Accordingly, the clearance of the Attorney General has been granted to the draft Bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman. Therefore, the Cabinet approved the resolution furnished by the Justice, Prison Activities and Constitutional Reforms Minister to publish the said draft Bill in the Government gazette notification and thereby submit the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.

Amendment of Schedule VIII to Fauna-and-Flora-Protection-Ordinance-No. 2 of 1937

According to the plant classification system under the schedule VIII of Fauna-and-Flora-Protection Ordinance-No. 2 of 1937 as last amended by Fauna-and-Flora-Protection (Amendment) Act No. 7 of 2022, more than 680 plant species belonging to 121 genus have been declared as protected plants. However, the need to revise the said schedule to suit the present needs has been identified. As such the Cabinet approved the Proposal presented by the Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation Minister to appoint a committee comprising experts in the fields of Botanical Classification and Nomenclature, Ecology, Wildlife Conservation and Human Botany and to revise the Schedule VIII to Fauna-and-Flora-Protection-Ordinance-No. 2 of 1937 as per the recommendation of the committee.

Korea, Sri Lanka agreement on Mutual Legal Cooperation in Criminal Matters

It has been proposed to sign an agreement between Korea and Sri Lanka on mutual legal cooperation in criminal matters. Accordingly, a delegation consisting of senior officials of the Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Ministry, Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Attorney General’s Department and a delegation of relevant institutions of Korea have drafted the relevant agreement. It is expected to improve the effectiveness of crime prevention, investigation, filing of complaints and to improve the effectiveness of crime prevention in both states. Accordingly the Cabinet approved the proposal presented by Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms the Minister to sign the said agreement between the two parties and then ratify it by the diplomatic missions of the two countries.

MoU to implement Community Based Tourism Development Project focusing on Central, North and Eastern Provinces

The Cabinet approval has been granted on 09.01.2023 to enter into an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Korean Tourism Organisation and the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority for the implementation of a pilot project related to the implementation of a community-based tourism development project, focusing on the Central, Northern and Eastern Provinces under a grant of 2.172 billion Korean Won.

The implementation of the full project was planned based on the success of the pilot project. Meanwhile, representatives of the Korean Tourism Organisation have visited the respective provinces. After that visit, instead of implementing a pilot project, they agreed to start the entire planned project at once. Accordingly, the Cabinet focused its attention on the measures taken to reach a revised agreement between the two parties in order to implement the project and agreed to proceed accordingly.

Establishment of Inter-Ministerial Standing Committee on Human Rights

It has been recognized the need of appointing an Inter-Ministerial Standing Committee on Human Rights to act as a stable national framework for an effective domestic process of follow-up and reporting on Human Rights and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka. Accordingly, the Cabinet approved the proposal presented by the Foreign Affairs Minister to establish an Inter-Ministerial Standing Committee on Human Rights with the Foreign Affairs Ministry as the coordinating / lead agency.

Procurement for purchase of oil and lubricants for Sri Lanka Transport Board

National Competitive Bids have been invited for purchase of Oil and Lubricants for Sri Lanka Transport Board. The Cabinet Appointed Standing Procurement Committee has recommended purchase of relevant oil and lubricants from Lanka IOC and from Chevron Lubricants Lanka PLC based on each item. As such the Cabinet approved the proposal presented by the Transport and Highways Minister to award the respective contracts to the recommended companies.

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