Cabinet Decisions

The details of the Cabinet Decisions at the post Cabinet press briefing held at the Government Information Department this week are given below.

 Govt. to set up a National Organic Control Authority

 On a proposal by the Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishard Bathiudeen the Cabinet of Ministers approved the establishment of a National Organic Control Authority to facilitate the Export of Organic Products. The main objective of this is to maintain a credible system of quality assurance for organic agricultural products such as spices, herbs, essential oils, desiccated coconut, oil seeds, pulses, cashew, tropical fruits and vegetables that are being exported from Sri Lanka.

 Accordingly, Sri Lanka Export Development Act will be amended enabling the setting up of this new authority by an Act of Parliament.

Provisions for Human resource requirements of 1000 Secondary School Programme

 On a proposal by the Minister of Education Bandula Gunawardena the Cabinet has granted its approval to recruit the required human resources to maintain the schools that will be established under the one thousand secondary school programme.  

The implementation of this programme will be completed within the next three years and each of the proposed schools will be equipped with a language lab, Science and technology laboratory, a computer laboratory with minimum of 50 computers and internet facilities, a mathematics laboratory and a library with modern facilities.

 Accordingly, the required human resources to manage these schools and to maintain the special units set up under this programme will be provided after providing them with necessary training and expertise. Rs. 2100 million to provide school uniforms in 2012

The Cabinet also on a proposal by Minister of Education decided to procure the 50 percent of the needs of school uniforms for next year through the local producers.

The quantity of material required for free distribution of school uniforms to school students and Robe material for the student monks in Pirivenas for 2012 has been estimated as 11,210,100 metres and a sum of Rs. 2100.00 million has been set aside for the purpose.

Rs 4300 million assistance from Germany to complete the work of Galle Mahamodara Hospital

 On a proposal made by President, Cabinet of Ministers decided to obtain a loan of Euro 28 million (approximately SLR 4300 million) from the KfW (Kerditanstalt Fur Weideraufbau) of Germany to complete the balance work of the Mahamodara Maternity Hospital in Galle which was badly damaged due to the tsunami in 2004.

The reconstruction of this tsunami affected hospital was undertaken by the Helmut Kohl Maternity Hospital Foundation of Germany but the work was held up due to inadequacy of funds.

 The Government of Germany has agreed to provide this loan facility and accordingly, a loan agreement will be signed for the purpose shortly.

Upgrading Assistant Government Agents’ Offices as Divisional Secretariats

On a proposal made by W.D.J Seneviratne, Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs, Cabinet approval was granted to upgrade the under mentioned Assistant Government Agents’ offices as Divisional Secretariats.  

This will provide better facilities to the people living in these areas and also for the expeditious implementation of development activities of the Government.

Jaffna District - AGA’s offices - Delft. Kayts (North Island), Karainagar and Wadamarachchi East.

Kilinochchi District - AGA’s offices - Kandawalai, Karachchui, Pachchilaipally and Punakari

Mannar District - AGA’s offices - Madu and Manthai West

Vavuniya District - AGA’s offices - Vavuniya North

Mullaithiu District - AGA’s offices - Manthai East. Maritime Pattu, Pudukuduirrippu, Thunukkai and Oddusudan