Hi guys,

In insightful I regret not having this tread,, According to SL's Constitution Cabinet Decisions must be taken for any large projects which also comes under strategic investment law brought in under Mahinda future vision! So this is the last hurdle and most of these mammoth ventures had MR's back-up as far as I am aware which is great I presume.

Any comments!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Crucial meeting discusses and approves Budget 2012 plans, new Tourism Authority, acceleration of eSri Lanka drive and regional development


Cabinet at its meeting this week appears to have spent greater deal of time discussing and making key decisions on future development including Budget 2012 and high growth sectors such as tourism, ICT and industrialisation.
The meeting chaired President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is also Minister of Finance and Planning had approved the broad framework of Budget 2012 based on the Government’s medium term expenditure programme spanning until 2014.
Approval was granted for the General Treasury to proceed with the preparatory work of budget 2012 focusing on broader parametres such as achieving an economic growth of at least 8%, inflation range of 6 to 7%; reduction of Budget Deficit to 6.2% of GDP from an estimated 6.8% in 2011, as well as total debt target to be reduced to 75% from the current 80% of GDP.

Cabinet also decided that in line with the current economic policy, public investment should be maintained at least at 6% of the GDP.
On a proposal made by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Cabinet approved the establishment of a Tourism Authority and to prepare a Bill for this purpose to be presented in Parliament.
Official sources said salient features of the Bill would be development of Sri Lanka as a quality tourist and travel destination and gateway to the South Asian Region; encourage private sector in the promotion of tourism industry and training activities; promotion of Sri Lanka as world class venue for international, regional and domestic conventions, meetings and exhibitions or (MICE tourism); and promote and improve services and facilities provided for tourists.

Under the World Bank funded eSri Lanka initiative the Cabinet also approved the setting up a Government-owned institution called Lanka Government Information Infrastructure Ltd., to take ownership for the management and operation of the eGovernment intranet. Allocation of Rs. 742 million was approved by the Cabinet for the purpose on a proposal made by President Rajapaksa who has been championing ICT even from the time he was Prime Minister.

The eGovernment network’s phase one was funded by Import Bank of Korea loan worth $ 15 million and Samsung Networks has completed connecting 325 Government organisations and providing them with Basic Computer Equipment, Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN) etc.
On a proposal made by Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen, Cabinet approved the Trincomalee Industrial Estate’s Stage II.
Under Stage I of the project, land in extent of 25 acres was developed with the necessary infrastructure required for the industries including 6 model factory buildings. Fourteen industrialists were selected to cover the entire developed area under stage I, by the Regional Industrial Service Committee of the Eastern Province.


Under stage 11 of the project, a proper garbage disposal system, waste water treatment facilities, roadways and other common amenities will be done at a cost of Rs. 256 million.


Cabinet also approved the setting up of wind energy parks in Mannar, as proposed by Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka. This will be subject to carrying out of an environmental impact assessment.
Sources said Mannar and the adjoining coastal areas have been identified as suitable for setting up of this first dedicated Wind Energy Park.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank have agreed to provide technical assistance for the purpose and the ADB has already committed funds through its loan package for 2012 to meet the infrastructure cost of the Wind Farm including the construction of 220 KV Grid Substation at Mannar and transmission line to Mannar via Vavuniya or Anuradhapura.

FT.LK (http://www.ft.lk/2011/08/19/cabinet-gets-down-to-biz/)

(18.08.2011) The Government Spokesman and Minister of Mass Media and Information Mr. Keheliya Rambukwella informed the undermentioned decisions taken by the Cabinet of Ministers when they met under the Chairmanship of President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday (17.08.2011)
Print | E-mail Budget -2012 to be prepared under Medium Term Expenditure Program

A broad framework for the preparation of the Budget for the year 2012 based on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework of 2012- 2014 was presented to the Cabinet by the President as Minister of Finance and Planning.
Accordingly approval was granted for the General Treasury to proceed with the preparatory work of the budget 2012 focusing on the following parameters:
• Economic Growth to be maintained at least at 8 %
• Inflation to be within a range of 6 to 7 per cent
• Budget Deficit is to be reduced to 6.2 % from 6.8 % of GDP
• Total Debt target to be reduced to 75% from the current 80 % of GDP
• It was also decided that in line with the current economic policy, public investment should be maintained at least at 6 percent of the GDP.


A government owned company to take over e-Sri Lanka Project
On a proposal made by H.E. the President Mahinda Rajapaksa , a government owned company called “Lanka Government Information Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd” has been set up for the Government to take over the ownership for the management and operations of the Lanka Government Network from 01st August 2011 onwards.
Import Bank of the Republic of Korea provided a loan in the sum of US $15.0 million to the Government of Sri Lanka to fund Stage I of the above project.
Consequent to competitive bidding, the contract was awarded to Samsung Networks Inc. which has successfully completed the project, connecting 325 Government organizations and providing them with Basic Computer Equipment. Local Area Network, Wide Area Network etc.
Allocation of Rs 742 million was approved by the Cabinet for the purpose.


Sri Lanka Tourism Authority is to be set up
The proposal made by Mr. Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Affairs to establish a Tourism Authority and to prepare a Bill for the purpose to he presented in Parliament, was approved by the Cabinet.
The salient features of the Bill are as follows:
• Develop Sri Lanka as a quality tourist and travel destination and gateway to the South Asian Region;
• Encourage persons or bodies of persons in the private sector to participate in the promotion of Tourism Industry and Training Activities connected with such industry;
• Promote Sri Lanka as a venue for international, regional and domestic conventions, meetings and exhibitions; and
• Promote and improve services and facilities provided for tourists


Electronic National Identity Cards to all citizen On the proposal made by H.E. the President as Minister of Defence the Cabinet approved the issuance of Electronic National Identity Cards for all citizens through the Department of Registration of Persons.
The new ID, incorporating sophisticated devise required for the current and future needs of national security will be issued free of charge to registered persons during initial period.


Development of Trincomalee Industrial Estate Stage II –
On a proposal made by Mr Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce Cabinet approval was granted to proceed with the work of Trincomalee Industrial Estate Stage II of the Project.
Under Stage I of the project, land in extent of 25 acres has been developed with the necessary infrastructure required for the industries including 6 model factory buildings.
14 Industrialists have been selected to cover the entire developed area under stage I, by the Regional Industrial Service Committee of the Eastern Province.
Under stage 11 of the project, it is proposed to developed a proper garbage disposal system, waste water treatment facilities , roadways and other common amenities
A sum of Rs 256 million has been allocated for the development work under Stage II


Wind Energy Parks to be established in Mannar
The Cabinet of Ministers on a proposal made by Mr. Patali Champika Ranawaka, Minister of Power and Energy approved the setting up of Wind Energy Parks in Mannar subject to carrying out of an environmental impact assessment.
Mannar and the adjoining coastal areas have been identified as suitable for setting up of this first dedicated Wind Energy Park.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank have agreed to provide technical assistance for the purpose and the ADB has already committed funds through its loan package for 2012 to meet the infrastructure cost of the Wind Farm including the construction of 220 KV Grid Substation at Mannar and transmission line to Mannar via Vavuniya or Anuradhapura,


A New Railroad from Madawachchiya to Trlncomalee On a proposal made by Mr. Kumara Welgama, Minister of Transport, Capinet approval was granted to award the contract for a. feasibility study for a New Railroad from Madawachchiya to Trincomalee, to the University of Colombo.
The length of this road will be about 90 Km, The proposed railroad will link the Railway network in the Northern Province of the country with that of the Eastern Province

.
Construction of a new Tank – Gonagalathenna in MedadumbaraOn a proposal made by Mr. Nimal Siripala de Silva, Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management, Cabinet decided to construct a Dam across the Gonagalathenna stream to form a tank with a capacity of 131 Ac. ft to provide water for irrigation and domestic purposes to the people in Gonagalathenna in Medadumbara
The proposed Tank is located at Dunuwila village of Medadumbara Divisional Secretary's Division in the Kandy District.
It is expected to cost Rs 55 million


Lease of land to Hikkaduwa Urban Council The Urban Development Authority has prepared a Development Plan for Hikkaduwa to provide better services to the Public as well as to the Tourists visiting Hikkaduwa.
The proposal made by H.E. the President to allocate a block of land to the Hikkaduwa Urban Council for conducting the Weekly Fair, was approved by the Cabinet.(niz)


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