Implementing kidney disease-prevention projects
With the objective of providing clinical services with more facilities to patients suffering from kidney diseases, approval was given by the Cabinet of Ministers, to establish the Anuradhapura Methsiri Sevana relief care and dialysis centres, as well as the Girandurukotte Social Welfare Economic Empowerment Education and Information Centre on Kidney Disease affiliated with the Kandy General Hospital.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by President Maithripala Sirisena, to allocate the provisions to provide such facilities, including the equipment required to implement such projects in 2019 onward, and to construct an Information and Research Centre at the University of Kelaniya on kidney disease.
This is to further execute the prevention of kidney diseases, as well as to allocate provisions required for the research project and treatment promotion programme on the ‘Usage of Indigenous Medicine for Kidney Disease and Research’ Project, which is conducted in association with the Kandy General Hospital and the Molecular and Cell Biology Institution in Singapore.
Taking over Kandakadu and Thrikonamaduwa farmlands
The Cabinet of Ministers had previously decided to develop the Kandakadu and Thrikonamaduwa farmlands in Polonnaruwa under the ‘Pibidemu Polonnaruwa’ Development programme. Accordingly, Cabinet approved the proposal presented by President Maithripala Sirisena, as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment, to take over the lands covering 3,415 hectares which had not been developed before, to be used for agribusinesses such as livestock management.
Economic Inquiry of 2018
Cabinet considered the matters presented by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, regarding the present situation of the country’s economy, condition of the liabilities which have been agreed, and programmes conducted recently for improving the economic situation of the country.
Facilities for devotees visiting Sabarimala Ayyappan
The Sabarimala Ayyappan is a Hindu temple complex located at the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala, India which Sri Lankan Hindu devotees visit annually, at the end of December and in the beginning of January.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Douglas Devananda, Minister of Resettlement, Rehabilitation, Northern Development and Hindu Religious Affairs, to provide the necessary facilities including the establishment of a temporary unit in the High Commission of Sri Lanka in India, to the devotees who visit this sacred place.
MoU on prevention of human-trafficking
The National Anti-Human-Trafficking Task Force was established in 2010. It has implemented numerous programmes to prevent the human trafficking.
Accordingly, it has been planned to implement training programmes focused on police officers to prevent human-trafficking.
Subsequently, Cabinet approved the proposal presented by Susil Premajayantha, Minister Public Administration, Home Affairs and Justice, to enter into a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding among the Ministry of Public Administration, LIFE Organisation, and the British High Commission in Sri Lanka.
Restructuring Revenue Administration System
With the enactment of the New Inland Revenue Act No. 24 of 2017, the Revenue Administration and Management Data Processing System operating in the Department of Inland Revenue has to be restructured for certain tax types.
Cabinet approved the proposal presented by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, to accomplish this software restructuring by the original contractor institution of the database.
Parallel roads for houses near Matara – Beliatta Railway
The construction of Matara – Beliatta Railway will be completed soon. As such, it is expected to implement train transport operations covering the coastal region from Colombo to Beliatta from 2019. Constructing roads parallel to the railway to provide access ways for occupants in houses near the Matara – Beliatta Railway, has been identified as a necessity.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, to construct 54 roads, totalling a length of 12.95km, under the supervision of the Road Development Authority.
Procuring policy framework to construct for solar, wind power plants
According to the Sri Lanka Electricity Generation Plan, 1/3 of the entire output is to be generated with the use of Non-traditional and alternative renewable energy sources by 2030.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Power and Renewable Energy Minister Dr. Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, to begin the procurement process in accordance with the policy framework to construct 60-Megawatt wind power plants and 150-Megawatt solar power plants, which should be connected to the power grid by 2020, under the ‘Long Term Generation Expansion Plan 2018 – 2037’ prepared by the Electricity Board.
Rural bridge constructions
The government has planned to construct 4,000 bridges to improve transport facilities in villages.
In accordance with the recommendation of a Cabinet-appointed Negotiation Committee following proposals received from nine provinces to construct 175 bridges, Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Faiszer Musthapha, Minister of Provincial Councils, Local Government and Sports, to award the contract to Cleveland Bridge UK Ltd., for £37.69 million.
Improving financial facilities for promoting agriculture, enterprises
The government has identified that setting up a transparent and simple wide-based tax management system with less tax ratio to promote local enterprises such as small and medium-scale enterprise sector, as well as professional and other services, is a necessity. Accordingly, Cabinet approved the proposal presented by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, to take the following immediately:
• Exemption of entrepreneurs, especially small-scale ones, to gain income from any agriculture earnings such as tea, spices, coconut, rubber, paddy, fruits and vegetables for five years.
• Reduction of tax ratio on profits gained from locally-processed agricultural products from 28 percent to 14 percent.
• As relief for small-scale entrepreneurs, increments in the income boundary related to the existing 0.5-percent Economic Service Charge from 12.5 million to 50 million per quarter.
• Concern the cost of using renewable sources, including the installation of solar power panels for tea, coconut, rubber and other agricultural processing factories, as a deductible expense while calculating a taxable profit.
• Implementation of a programme prepared by the Treasury, to regenerate enterprises owned by small and medium-scale entrepreneurs who have failed to refund loans obtained from banks and financial institutions, enabling them to access financial facilities.
• Steps to reduce the prices of certain goods and fuel, in order to reduce the cost of living of low-income families.
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