The Government has resolved to expedite development and poverty eradication in 2017. A three-year program aimed at boosting development will commence on January 8, the second anniversary of President Maithripala Sirisena’s election to office, but some projects will start earlier.
This program will be known as Thirasara Yugayaka-Thewasara Arambuma (Commencement of three-year sustainable development initiative). One of the first projects to get off the ground will be the Volkswagen factory project, whose construction will start on January 3.
The Government’s broad development and reform program covers a gamut of ministries and subjects, from transport to health. The Sunday Observer spoke to several ministers to get their inputs on the development program and their work resolutions for 2017.
Health and Indigenous Medicine Minister Dr.Rajitha Senaratne
We have resolved to give priority to combat non-communicable diseases next year which has become a global phenomenon. We have commenced various programs, and launched an effective campaign against tobacco. Even the tobacco company says, smoking has decreased by 45 percent due to our campaign. A large number of people have quit smoking today. We will conduct a series of awareness campaigns to educate the people to do their health checkups. At present, most people have no ability to do so because medical checkups are conducted only in the private sector for which the people have to pay. Therefore, the Health Ministry, through the countrywide MOH offices have set up 842 institutions to check BMI rate and blood pressure. We would shortly commence blood tests for cholesterol as well. These basic investigations would help identify whether one has diabetes and high blood pressure. We have also set up 906 well women centres to check breast cancers and cervical cancers.
For the first time in world history, the Government has commenced health checkups free of charge. We have also planned to introduce a family physician concept. Our intention is to create one doctor for 5,000 people, who will be registered under that doctor. This would enable people to do their free medical checkup every six months or one year. The doctor would then have their medical reports so that he could diagnose symptoms of any disease and take preventive measures. Initially, although the Government would have to spend a large sum of money, it would be a saving on a long term basis. It would help reduce treatments and the quantity of drugs issued. On the directive of the President, the Ministry has also commenced a program against the consumption of alcohol.
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Mahinda Amaraweera
We would focus on fishermen’s welfare and construct houses for them. We would provide boats and other required facilities for fishermen to engage in fishing in international waters. A sum of Rs. 1,200 million has been allocated to build houses for the fishermen. The Ministry would also give priority to promote aquaculture. Arrangements have been made to set up three industrial parks at Batticaloa, Mannar and Hambantota. Under the fisheries insurance scheme, the Government already gives Rs. one million compensation in the instance of the death of a fishermen.
Deputy Minister of Power and Renewable Energy Ajith P. Perera
We have three key priorities for year 2017. One is to add at least 1,000 MW of renewable energy into the system. That includes solar power, wind power and mini-hydro. Our second priority is demand side management.
For that we propose to open a new office for the Presidential Task Force on demand side management. Our intention is to reduce at least 400 MW of power within four years. The third priority is to have a state-of-the-art management system in the CEB and LECO. That will guarantee world class administration process and high quality services for the CEB.
Deputy Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Ashok Abeysinghe
There are 36,000 employees in the CTB. Arrangements have been made to import 1,000 two door buses and 250 single door buses. In addition, 500 buses will be repaired, fixing them with new engines. This would help add 1,750 buses to the fleet in 2017. When we took over the Ministry, the former Government had to pay Rs.14,700 million as EPF, ETF and Gratuity to employees. Of this, 80 percent has already been paid and the balance 20 percent will be paid during this year. A program has also been formulated to modernize the CTB depots.
The Ministry will import 12 railway engines, six air conditioned power sets and 160 railway compartments in 2017. At present there are 680 unprotected railway crossings. Bell and lights will be installed for 200 unprotected railway crossings this year. Our intention is to fix bell and lights for all unprotected railway crossings by 2019. The money has already been allocated to instal them for 400 level crossings. The railway line from Kurunegala to Polgahawela will be converted to a double line this year. This projected is estimated to cost US$ 50 million and the funds will be given under the Indian Credit Line. In addition, the railway line from Aluthgama to Galle will also be made a double line. The construction work on a new railway track from Kurunegala to Habarana will also commence this year. We have also planned to introduce a new electric train from Panadura to Veyangoda for which the Asian Development Bank has pledged to provide US$600 million.
We will commence the overlay of the runway of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) on January 5 at a cost of US$ 50 million. The runway was last overlaid in 1986, and we propose to overlay it after a lapse of 30 years. The International Civil Aviation Authority has said, they will not allow to land planes after 2017 as our runway is not in good condition. We hope to complete this project by April 5. During this three month period, the Airport will be closed eight hours per day from 8 am to
4 pm The construction of the new terminal of the BIA will commence in April this year. This project, estimated at US$ 700 million, funded by the JICA. is expected be completed by 2019.
Tourism Minister John Amaratunga
The Tourism Ministry is poised to get a step closer to its vision of making the tourism sector the No.1 foreign exchange earner by 2020. Sri Lanka has had about 2.2 million tourists visiting the country last year, well exceeding the 2 million target. Tourism Minister John Amaratunga said, their new year resolution will revolve around sustaining the 25% annual growth in tourist arrivals.
“Our greatest concern now is the partial closure of the Bandaranaike International Airport for repairs during the peak season,” he said. The tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka is at its peak from January to March every year and the BIA tarmac will be closed for repairs during the same period.
He said, with their 2020 vision in mind a global Sri Lanka tourism promotion campaign is to start from 2017.
Deputy Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media Minister Karu Paranavithana
The Media Ministry in 2017 is set to fully implement the Right to Information Act. Deputy Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media Minister Karu Paranavithana said, they will present draft by-laws supporting the implementation of the RTI Act at the first Cabinet meeting of the new year for approval. The public administration Ministry is entrusted with drafting these by-laws that will amend the Establishment Code of the country.
According to the Act passed in Parliament mid last year, State institutions should be geared to implement the RTI by February 4, 2017.
The Minister said, another key resolution of the Ministry is to establish the Independent Media Regulatory Commission to bring in measures to ‘police’ the fourth estate. Public opinion has been sought on a suitable regulatory mechanism for print and electronic media in Sri Lanka. In view of the demand the Ministry has extended the deadline for written submissions by the public up to January 31. It was to expire on December 31. Thereafter, a series of open forums will be held to invite vocal inputs on the proposed Commission. Within the first quarter of this year the Ministry plans to come up with a broad framework for this commission.
Among the other resolutions, the Ministry will launch an exclusive Tamil channel on Rupavahini in 2017. The existing ‘Channel Eye’, which is a Tamil cum English channel will be an exclusive English channel thereafter.
The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) will see some of its key departments, including the marketing department and the ‘Swadeshiya Sevaya’
shifted to a new building along Bauddhaloka Mawatha. The Deputy Minister said, every government media institution including Lake House will have its infrastructure capacity developed in 2017.
Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Harsha de Silva
The Minister said, their key resolutions for the coming year include promoting economic diplomacy to engage Sri Lanka’s commercial interests around the world, while trying to boost its image further.
Therefore, a system of key performance indicators will be introduced to the Ministry and its overseas missions. “The Minister and I will monitor every mission and every person. We will dramatically improve the performance of our missions which will enhance professional output and efficiency of the staff”, he said.
The Ministry, in order to cut down on expenses will appoint a dozen non-resident Ambassadors in the coming year. It has also been planned to transform the interface of the entire consular division coinciding with the Ministry’s 40th anniversary. The idea is to shorten the time spent for a particular consular service by a member of the public, to 15 minutes. “At present a full day is consumed for such service, thus causing great inconvenience to people travelling from afar,” the Deputy Minister said.
For the first time in its history, the Ministry will bring all its foreign staff onto a single network, e-human resource platform, which will connect the country’s 68 missions and consular offices around the world.