The following decisions were taken by the Cabinet of Ministers yesterday.

Engineering Council

The Cabinet granted approval to establish an “Engineering Council” on a proposal made by Minister of Power and Energy Patali Champika Ranawaka. The Council is expected to help regulate the professional practice of engineering in Sri Lanka via a category-based registration process.

Strengthening Electricity Transmission & Distribution Network

The Cabinet decided that the country’s requirement for electricity generation will be strengthened after the commissioning of the 150 MW Upper Kotmale hydro power plant and 600 MW Phases II and Ill of the coal fired power plant at Puttlam.

Furthermore, the commissioning of the coal fired power plant at Trincomalee will add another 500 MW of power to the national grid by 2018.

Simultaneously, the electricity transmission and distribution network will be improved to achieve the targeted 100 % electricity supply to the entire country by the year 2012.

Trincomalee Port City Development

On a proposal made by President as Minister of Ports and Highways, the Cabinet decided to request for proposals from the interested parties to start port-related business in order to contribute to the country’s economy.

With the aim of evaluating this task, a Cabinet Appointed Negotiating Committee (CANC) and a Project Committee (PC) were appointed. They will also oversee the Trincomalee Port City Development Project that involves an approximate land area of 2000 ha which belongs to the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and is situated in the vicinity of the Trincomalee Port.

Construction of Dikowita Fishery Harbour

The Cabinet also approved a proposal made by Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development, to proceed with the construction of the Dikowita Fishery Harbour.

Instrument Landing System & Distance measuring System at BIA

A tender for the supply, installation and commissioning of Instrument Landing System (ILS) and Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) at Bandaranaike International Airport, on a proposal made by Minister of Civil Aviation Piyankara Jayaratne, was approved by the Cabinet. The new system will be procured by replacing the existing equipments installed at the BIA, on the recommendation of the Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee (CAPC) and the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC).
This will be given to M/s Queens Radio Marine Electronics at a total local component of Sri Lankan Rs.24, 500,000.00.

Shipping Service Agreement

The Cabinet agreed to enter into the Shipping Service Agreement with the Government of People's Republic of Bangladesh, on a proposal made by the President. The need for an agreement between the two countries was deemed necessary to enhance the new developments in the international shipping sector.