Cabinet Decisions:

Govt to acquire Shell Gas

Minister of Mass Media and Information and Cabinet spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella addressing the Media conference on Cabinet decisions, held this morning at the Ministry of Information, announced the following decisions taken by the Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday.

1. Acquisition of majority shares in the Shell Gas company.

Shell Gas Co., has decided to stall its operation in the Asian Region. The Cabinet making a swift move decided to acquire minimum 51% of shares in the Shell Gas Company, and appointed Bank of Ceylon as Advisor on this acquisition and appointed four Ministry Secretaries in the relevant sphere to negotiate this acquisition process. This decision was taken in keeping with government policy acquiring whenever and wherever possible the stakes of institutions that had been privatized.

2. Recruit 3,174 graduates as aesthetic teachers to fill the existing vacancies. This decision was taken based on a proposal submitted by the Minister of Education.

The recruitment will be made after the interviews as per the recruitment procedure.

3. Approved Rs. 6,200 million for road rehabilitation and water supply schemes in the Eastern province. Rs. 5,000 million will be spent on construction of 315 km of roads and Rs. 1,200 million on water supply schemes which would benefit 6,000 families.

4. Approved Rs. 666 million for improvement of sanitation and sewerage facilities in Kataragama.

5. Approved Rs. 145 million for Paththupitiya Drinking Water Supply Project which would cover Kegalle, Mawanella and Rambukkana areas.

6. Approved Rs. 384 million for the Pelmadulla water supply scheme which would benefit 17,500 families.

7. Approved Rs. 153 million for the Nivitigala water supply scheme which would benefit 6,000 families.

8. Approved a proposal submitted by the Minister of Economic Development to develop tourist resorts and other tourist facilities in 5,000 acres in Kalpitiya, 149 acres in Paseekudha, 456 acres in Kuchchaveli, 100 acres in Gampola, 15 acres in Polonnaruwa and 48 acres in Giriulla.

9. Approved a proposal to re-organise the National Equipment and Machinery Organisation.

10. Approved U.S.$ 1.5 million provided by Iran to undertake Tsunami-affected Rural Development and rehabilitation activities still remaining to be completed.