Cabinet decisions

Given below are the Cabinet decisions announced yesterday.

An Engineering Council to be set up

• The Cabinet on a proposal made by Minister of Power and Energy, Patali Champika Ranawaka, granted approval for the establishment of an Engineering Council by an Act of Parliament.

• This will enable to regulate the Professional Practice of Engineering in Sri Lanka by registering Engineering Practitioners, similar to those in the existing medical and legal professions.
• The objective of registration is to identify specifically those who are authorised to practice at different levels under the different categories such as chartered engineers, associate engineers, incorporated engineers, engineering Diplomates and engineering technicians.

Electricity transmission and distribution network to be strengthened island wide

• Electricity generation requirement of the country will be strengthened after commissioning of the 150 MW Upper Kotmale Hydro Power Plant and 600 MW Phases II and Ill of the Coal Fired Power Plant at Puttalam.
• Further 500 MW of power will be added to the national grid by 2018 with the commissioning of the Coal Fired Power Plant at Trincomalee.
• Parallel to these development, strengthening of electricity transmission and distribution network is required to achieve the targeted 100% electricity supply to the entire country by the year 2012

Due to the urgency to reinforce the existing transmission and distribution network of the CBB to be in line with the growing electricity demand, the following projects will be implemented early with domestic funds to be provided during the years 2012, 2013 and 2014:  Installation of 100 MW Ar capacitor bank in Pennipitiya Grid Substation - cost Rs.261.6 million; construction of Suriyawewa 132/33 MW Grid Substation - cost Rs.1 500 million; augmentation of Hambantota Grid Substation - cost Rs.534.3 million; and augmentation of Sri Jayewardenepura Grid Substation - cost Rs.507.1 million.

Construction of an additional building for the office of the Leader of the Opposition in the same premises

 On a proposal made by the Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne, Cabinet approval was granted to allocate Rs. 28.4 million to construct an additional building for the office of the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, at the same venue.

Construction of Dik-owita Fisheries Harbour

• The proposal made by Rajitha Senaratne, Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development, to proceed with the construction of this harbour, was approved by the Cabinet.
• The construction work will include the following;
• Increasing the depth of the Southern Harbour Basin up to 5 M. costing Rs. l05 million;
• Opening of the Outer Reef for a width of 70 M. to the Approach Channel and deepening it from 6 M. to 8 M. costing Rs.90 million
• Construction of Ice Plant costing Rs. 110 million;
• Workshop and Boat Repair Facility costing Rs.l90 million; and
• Anchorage for one day boats costing Rs.35 million

Installation and Commissioning of Instrument Landing System (ILS) and Distance Measuring System (DME) at BIA

• A proposal made by Minister of Civil Aviation Piyankara Jayaratne, a Tender for the Supply, Installation and Commissioning of Instrument Landing System and Distance Measuring Equipment (ILS & DME) at Bandaranaike International Airport was approved by the Cabinet

• Accordingly on the recommendation of the Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee (CAP C) and the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) the new system will be procured by replacing the existing equipments installed at the BIA.
• This would be awarded to M/s Queens Radio Marine Electronics at a total foreign component of 544,890.00 Sterling Pounds and the local component of Sri Lankan Rs.24, 500,000.00.

Shipping Service Agreement

• The Cabinet on a  proposal made by the President, agreed to enter into a Shipping Service Agreement with the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.
• The Government has found it necessary to have a new Shipping Service Agreement between the two countries in order to accommodate new developments that have taken place in the International Shipping Sector.

Some of the main features of this agreement are as follows:

• mutual maritime co-operation in the field of merchant shipping;
• provision of necessary assistance in merchant shipping activities;
• acilitation of maritime transportation;
• facilitation of medical aid for crew members where necessary; and
• Provision of help and assistance for the vessels in distress.