National Policy Framework Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour

National Policy Framework Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour Summary Contents 1. The 10 Key Policies 1 2. An efficient Country Free from Corruption 3 3. A Safe and a Secure Country for all 7 4. A Productive Citizen and a Happy Family 13 5. People-Centric Economy 23 6. A Technology Based Society 43 7. New Approach in National Spatial System 45 8. Sustainable Environmental Policy 57 9. A Righteous Disciplined and Law Abiding Society 61 10. Dialogue with the Village 71 1 CHAPTER 1 The 10 Key Policies Introduction This National Policy Framework (NPF) of the government constitutes of 10 key policies aimed at achieving the fourfold outcome of a productive citizenry, a contented family, a disciplined and just society and a prosperous nation. Ten key policies, giving due consideration to socio, economic, environmental and political aspects are; Key Policies  Priority to National Security  Friendly, Non-aligned, Foreign Policy  An Administration free from corruption  New Constitution that fulfills the People‟s wishes  Productive Citizenry and a vibrant Human resource  People Centric Economic Development  Technology Based Society  Development of Physical Resources  Sustainable Environmental Management  Disciplined, Law Abiding and values based society The National Policy Fretwork has also given first priority for ensuring the National Security. It clearly spelt out that that new methodologies be adopted to safeguard the national security without compromising the democratic space available to our people. 2 3 Chapter -02 An efficient Country Free from Corruption Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Governance An efficient Governance Mechanism Remove all inefficiencies and make people‟s responsive government  Appoint Subject expertise and experienced parliamentarians as the Cabinet Ministers  Appoint competent dedicated Secretaries to the ministries from the public officers with the requisite administration experience or among recognized professionals in the relevant field.  Introduce succession plan for all executive and administrative staffs and provide knowledge and skill development training programmes (Local/Foreign) for enriching their carries  Introduce new mechanism to select the head of State institutions, corporations and statutory boards based on merit and leadership abilities Ensure efficient public service delivery  Update the existing rules and regulations in public sector to expedite the public services Ensure transparency in economic policy formulation and implementation  Establish „National Policy, Planning and Implementation Commission „functioning under the President  Establish a mechanism to get public participation for the policy formulation. 4 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Ensure the Sustainable Development Goals are met by 2030  Restructure the cabinet ministries to achieve SDG by 2030  Formulate a systematic plan to achieve the SDG Ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of Government expenditure  Establish a senior group of officials under the chairmanship of secretary to the Cabinet for observe Cabinet papers on government expenditure and investment.  Purchasing and renting of office premises and vehicles for the public sector will be suspended for 3 years Defeating Corruption Ensuring none of politicians or senior public officials engage in any forms of corruptions.  Bring to justice the Central Bank Bond scam and 20 major financial crimes.  Strengthen the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption to act against the corrupted politicians and Public officials.  Regularize and institutionalize the FCID and special court to hear financial crimes Ensure law reforms and new Technology to eliminate corruption  Introduce an online system for the procurement, tax determination, and contract awarding to minimize the bribery and corruption.  Introducing an on line national procument system  Create a novel government machinery to use public assets optimally and respond to public needs.  Law reforms to enable the introduction of an e- technology system to receive public complaints.  Strengthen the legal frame work of the Commission to Investigate 5 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Allegations of Bribery or corruption State Enterprises Management Ensure the accountability of the chairmen and Board of all State owned Enterprises  Called upon the chairmen and Board of all State owned Enterprises to a table for strategic plan.  Ensure the accountability of the Chairmen and Board of all State owned Enterprises for all forms of malpractices of their institutions.  Appoint the Boards and the senior management teams based on merit.  Mandating all state bank, State enterprises and State corporations to submit financial statement according to the auditing standard on time Laws reforms to stop privatization of State owned enterprises  Enact the laws to stop any public enterprise from being privatized.  Introduce laws to safeguard and protect government and state owned entities Ensure an efficient, profit making and rational Public enterprises  Appoint senior career professionals to manage State enterprises.  Establish National Enterprises Authority  Amalgamate similar kind performing State enterprises.  Establish a special Treasury monitoring system for the monetarily important State enterprises.  Recruiting professional to large scale state owned enterprises and revise the existing salaries and governing laws.  Establish a scheme to monitor their performances. 6 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Achieving National Unity through Democratic Governance New constitution based on public aspiration.  Review executive presidency, mixed electoral system, the provincial council and strengthen the independence of the judiciary.  Ensuring the foremost place to Buddhism, establishing religious freedom and securing fundamental rights. Reconciliation among the ethnic groups  Establish Inter – Religious Advisory Council under chairmanship of the President.  Rehabilitate the LTTE cadres and force persons who are charged with various offenses and integrated them in to the society as free person.  Get actions within 3 months to indict or discharge all those charged with terrorism related offenses for long period.  Establish a National Land Commission to prepare land use policy with consideration of historical and archeological factors, natural resources, urbanization and future necessities.  Bridge the communication gap by making mandatory for Sinhala medium students to learn Tamil and Tamil medium students to learn Sinhala. Well-disciplined political environment  Dealt with in terms of the law on unruly, undisciplined and ill- mannered people‟s representatives.  Enact Laws to curb election related expenditures.  Empower the Election Commission to institute legal action against any violations. 7 Chapter -03 A Safe and a Secure Country for all Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Top priority for National Security Strengthen the intelligence services of armed forces and the police.  Recruiting capable officers.  Establishing a post of National Chief of Intelligence with adequate power to coordinate all relevant agencies. Linking with international intelligence agencies.  Providing local and foreign trainings on modern technology  Training the intelligence personnel to use modern Information and Communication Technologies. Re-Building the moral of Forces  Ensuring the legal protection enabling the forces to perform duties fearlessly and with dignity, without any political interference. Making safety and secure country for all citizen , especially for women and children  Protecting the county from international threats, drug trafficking, money laundering and other current plague and cyber attacks. 8 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Creating free environment for investors  Preventing all types of corruptions, graft, bribery and intimidation. Dismantling all the structures supporting terrorism and extremism  Appointing an independent commission to investigate April 21st attack, expose the perpetrators and punish the offender accordance with the law expeditiously  Fully support the government for further treatments including overseas treatments of casualties of April 21st attack.  Implementing a long term care system for the permanently disabled persons.  Providing monthly financial assistance to the orphan children due to that attack.  Providing compensation to the affected families of April 21st attack. A Country Free from Drugs Stopping the influx of drug in to the country  Providing latest technology to the custom and other border authorities.  Empowering the Police and armed forces to combat against the drug trafficking.  Getting the public participation to eradicate drugs from the country. Protect school children from  Developing a programme to rehabilitate the children who have fallen prey to drugs. 9 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities harmful drugs  Establishing a proper inspection mechanism to supervise all places that could easily lure children into using drugs. Ensuring the rehabilitation of all who addicted to drugs  Providing medical assistance to overcome drug addiction  Establishing four rehabilitation centers island wide with modern treatment facilities. Security Services –a secure Work Environment Restoring the dignity of Armed forces personnel, Police and the Civil defense force  Taking measure to swiftly release those who imprisoned false allegations.  Rectifying anomalies in salaries and allowances and promotional issues.  Taking necessary action to provide barrack and lodging facilities.  Providing and improving medical facilities for all armed forces including retired members.  Providing as additional opportunity to serve in UN peace keeping mission.  Providing concessionary housing loan to all serving, disabled armed personnel and the spouses or children of deceased armed personnel.  Revisiting the existing loan schemes and eliminate delays.  Providing suspended foreign training opportunities. A Contented Police Service Enhance knowledge and skills of all police officers.  Establishing a Police University 10 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Ensure more viable welfare facilities  Providing all necessary facilities to do the duties  Establishing a transparent scheme to appoint OIC to Police Stations.  Establishing a promotion scheme based purely on performance reviews and merit.  Filling all the gaps in recruitments to ensure that no police officer works more than 8 hours.  Building adequate housing facilities to provide opportunities to commute to work from their own homes.  Increasing the meal allowances and other allowances as provided to armed forces.  Providing a motorcycle to police officers those who carry out field investigations.  Instituting suitable adjustments in existing welfare facilities  Providing needed support to police sports club and music bands Civil Defence Force  Ensuring the members of the Civil Defense Force in terms of transferring outside their home district for long period. Recognition of the services of the armed forces Ensuring the welfare facilities of Armed force  Rectifying anomalies in disabled soldier‟s salaries and making good on all outstanding arrears.  Ensuring the entitlement of permanently disabled soldiers to obtain their salaries during their lifetime and after demise, to 11 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities their dependents  Remove all deductions from the salaries of disabled soldiers.  Redevelop the rehabilitation centers such as Abhimansala.  Adopt a mechanism to obtain artificial limbs in state cost to those who have lost their limbs in the war. Friendly and Non-aligned Foreign Policy Ensure the ownership of strategic assets and economically important natural resources.  Develop strong trade relationship with Asian countries.  Work closely with India, SAARC and BIMSTEC nations to ensure regional security.  Acknowledge the standings of developed countries in international trade.  Develop the trade relations with Middle East and South East countries; Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia etc.  Re-visit the harmful bi-lateral trade agreements signed in past 5 years.  Prevent from any agreements harmful to the domestic economy 12 13 Chapter 04 A Productive Citizen and a Happy Family “Towards a knowledge based economy through Human Resource Development”  A society endowed with knowledge  From Mother‟s Lap to Teacher‟s Care  Re-awakening of School Education  University and Higher Vocational Education  Western Medicine  Harnessing the Power of Youth  Sports for a Vibrant Youth  Knowledgeable Child Population  The Economic and Social Contribution of Women  Differently Abled People  A Society with Respected Senior Citizens  A Culture of “Working for the Country”  Workforce in Foreign Employment  A Comfortable Home for Each Family 14 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Education A society endowed with knowledge Introduction of single curriculum system  Enhance quality of education from pre-school to the tertiary level in par with international standards  Bring all institutions under one umbrella  Change school curriculum to lighter and assignment flexible Re-awakening of School Education Quality Improvement  Introduce new scientific method for university admissions based on the school rather than the district quota.  Test IQ level at grade 6, and guided to higher studies according to their acquired skills and inherent skills. Teacher training and Professional Development  Convert existing eighteen (18) National Colleges of Education as University faculties.  Create one close service by combining teachers, principals, teacher instructors and education administrative officers.  Make legal provisions enabling teachers to transfers between National Schools and Provincial Schools. Infrastructure development in the school system  Provide infrastructure facilities with modern technology and required human resources to rural schools.  Introduce cluster school‟s system by upgrading three schools per Divisional Secretariat Division.  Establish twenty „trilingual, model secondary national school‟ island wide within the first two years.  Develop primary schools into „Child-Friendly schools‟ and sufficient human resources will be provided.  Establish school transport service for students and teachers under PPP model. 15 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Higher Education Excellence in Higher Education All qualified students to continue their higher education up to degree level  Convert all universities to Smart Learning Universities and commence technological faculties to produce more technocrats.  Establish an aviation university and a nautical university.  Provide adequate funds to university students to pursue new courses and introduce interest free loan scheme.  Introduce PPP model to provide accommodation facilities.  Establish 10 „university colleges‟ affiliated to existing aesthetic universities.  Expand the Open University education system enabling to provide distance education opportunities.  Upgrade and expand all State universities, Maritime University and Kotelawala Defense University in accordance to the international standards.  Eradicate the culture of ragging from universities and other higher educational institute. Vocational Training and Skills Development Towards a skilled Society A trained, energetic workforce to achieve accelerated development to reduce the unskilled category in the labour force  Provide vocational and technical opportunities to needy students regardless of the academic performance.  Rationalize the existing vocational training institutes by introducing „One TVET‟ Concept and establish properly scattered technical university colleges.  Increase present scheme of NVQ certificate level 7 to 10 and revise Sri Lanka Qualification Framework (SLQF) accordingly.  Provide wider opportunity to existing workforce to upgrade their skills. 16 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Western Medicine Changing the approach to promoting a life style instead of treating a patient Implement Suwa Divmaga programme  Promote healthy meal free of agro chemicals and additives  Promote production of organic food  Promote proper eating habits at all ages  Create healthy environment by preventing pollution of air, water soil through sustainable environment policy Increase annual investment of health care Implement Healthcare Facility Development Programme  Steps taken to obtain healthcare services conveniently and without waiting list/ long queues and crowding  Upgrade NHSL to international level  Equip and upgrade one selected hospital in each district to a level similar to NHSL  Upgrade all hospitals by providing necessary facilities, physical as well as human resources. All outpatient services allocated to these hospitals while introducing referral system  Introduce modern diagnosis and treatment facilities i.e. E-Health, Telemedicine  Improve facilities to retain doctors in the country  Establish ISO standards in all public and private healthcare facilities to ensure safe environment for all  Establish a regulatory authority to govern all hospitals, dispensaries, labs, services etc. and maintain accepted standards.  Maintain compulsory safe stock levels of essential drugs and supplies  Establish an adequately equipped WHO standard quality control laboratory to ensure the quality of drugs 17 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Spend entire government funds on health for citizens of Sri Lanka  Restrict to provide government healthcare facilities on free of charge for foreigners Indigenous and Ayurveda System Uplift these systems through a more scientific and modern approach. Increase annual allocation for Indigenous medicine sector  Establish a National indigenous Medical council and Sri Lanka Medical Ayurveda Council. In addition, develop a system to register traditional healers (Weda Mahathmayas) as indigenous doctors  Provide necessary facilities to improve Ayurveda hospitals to a standard level, provide preventive care facilities and to provide facilities to Ayurveda physicians  Encourage research on indigenous drugs and treatment facilities and establish mechanism to register the same.  Provide facilities to cultivate all medicinal plants, herbal gardens and provide facilities to manufacture and export herbal cosmetic products  Upgrade institute of medicine to a level of Ayurveda University  Steps taken to update Ayurveda Pharmacopeia.  Develop a mechanism to cater tourists for Ayurveda, Siddha, homeopathy and other traditional treatment methods 18 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Youth Affairs Harnessing the Power of Youth Identifying the aspirations and develop a viable and effective programme enabling youth to reach full potential  Increase the participation of youth in political decision making.  Provide extensive opportunities and incentives for young entrepreneurs.  Youth Human Resource Data Bank will be established to identify youth for foreign and local job opportunities. Sports Sports for a Vibrant nation Creation of energetic, healthy and disciplined nation  Provide nutrition, training and other facilities for school children who excel in sports.  Establish a Sports University with international standards.  Established / Upgraded provincial level stadium.  Provide facilities and incentives to increase the number of sport sector professionals such as coaches, trainers and physiotherapists. Child Care Creation of Knowledgeable Child Population Guide children to be healthy and productive citizens  Provide financial and other facilities for the children with low income families.  Establish a programme with the Ministries of Justice, Child and Women Affairs and Defence as well as all related state agencies to address and prevent all forms of exploitation, abuse and violence against children.  Establish a dedicated section in each District Court to resolve court cases pertaining to children without delay.  Establish a national programme to introduce a „foster family system‟ for all children in Child Care and Development Centres/Institutions. 19 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Women Affairs Women to be empowered Economically and Socially Harnessing the contribution of women to development plans  Regulate, standardize and expand child care facilities for increasing women participation in the labour force.  Introduce flexible working arrangement for young mothers.  Introduce home-based enterprise with required assistance for rural women.  Reduce all kind of sexual and gender-based violence for women and set up a 24-hour emotional support and advisory help line. Social Protection Ensuring economic and social rights of differently abled people Provide equal opportunities to realize their full potential  Introduce facilities to address the difficulties encountered by those with disabilities in accessing education, in learning and in sitting for examinations in schools, universities, and other educational institutions.  Provide special skill / professional training programmes for differently abled people.  Establish call centres for supporting differently abled people.  Promote all television medias to use sign language in their news telecast. Elder Care A Society with Respected Senior Citizens Providing welfare measures to enable the elderly to live with dignity  Implement the five-year plan to overcome challenges during old age effectively.  Set up a „Voluntary Service Task Force‟ enabling to share their knowledge and experienced with future generation.  Add Rs.100/- deducted from the elderly assistance programme back to the existing Rs. 2,000/and increase the monthly allowance to Rs. 2,500/-.  Introduce a subsidy scheme for senior citizens above 65 years of age to purchase prescribed medicines and provide free health checkup in 20 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities each six months.  Introduce standards for the elderly homes.  Provide low interest loans for senior citizens to go on pilgrimages to places of worship abroad according to the religion they practice. Public Service A Culture of “Working for the Country” Establishing a People-Centred Public Service  Introduce a new „Code of Ethics‟ to ensure an independent public service.  Introduce an insurance scheme for public and private sector employees who become unemployed.  Increase the employer‟s contribution to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) for employees of the public and private to 15% from the existing 12%.  Set legal provisions to indemnify officers of government departments, semi-government public corporations and banks who carry out their duties in good faith.  Give a healthcare allowance to lower grades of employees in the public service including the local government service Institutes.  Expedite the payment of the widow‟s and orphan‟s pensions to those who are eligible. Private Sector Protecting Privet Sector Employees Create an enabling working environment  Increase private sector workers‟ existing minimum wage of Rs. 10,000/- by Rs. 2,500/-.  It is mandatory to report the recruitment of new employees to the Department of Labour within one week.  Amend relevant legislation to ensure conducive environment for private sector employment. 21 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Foreign Employment Admiring Migrant Workforce Encouraging works in abroad with providing incentives  „Exempt workers‟ remittances as well as the earnings and saving of Sri Lankans domiciled abroad from income taxes and foreign currency bank accounts will be made tax free.  Introduce a special loan scheme to enable those who return to Sri Lanka after foreign employment to commence tax-exempt enterprises.  Provide a duty-free vehicle permit for migrant workers and Sri Lankans abroad who have remitted US dollars 50,000 annually continuously for a period of 10 years.  Introduce a contributory pension scheme for migrant workers who have been in employment abroad for a period of over 6 years.  Introduce a programme to send skilled workers instead of unskilled workers.  Introduce legal reforms to strengthen the process of obtaining compensation for victims of accidents in workplaces abroad. Housing A Comfortable Home for Each Family Providing housing facilities through multiple approach  Provide houses to those in need through easy payment plans based on the income.  Provide land at reasonable prices for housing construction companies.  Implement special housing projects under PPP arrangements island wide.  Implement a programme island wide, to provide houses from housing schemes for displaced persons and those living in shanties.  Construct housing schemes with all facilities in rural agricultural areas where the land to build houses is limited.  Merge banks and other public institutions providing loans exclusively to the housing sector into one Housing Bank and introduce a 22 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities mechanism to provide low interest loans through this bank. 23 Chapter 5 People-Centric Economy Overall Objective To develop a national economic policy for the benefit of the present and future generations whereby;  People‟s ownership of the country‟s economic resources is ensured  Local enterprises are strengthened  Vital national assets will be secured Macroeconomic Policy Framework  Get rid of the debt-trap; promoting domestic investments, reducing import expenditures and raising export incomes.  Reducing budget deficit; eliminate unnecessary government expenditures while financing for essential expenditures and prioritizing state investments.  Reducing the trade deficit; promoting domestic resources based exports, import substitution and expanding the export economy via increasing valued-added industries.  Reducing import taxes on raw materials and intermediate goods to promote domestic production  Making free of import tariff on machinery and technical equipment to develop internationally competitive industries  Stabilizing the high risk financial institutions using the liquidity fund with the Central Bank  Ensuring the food security Macroeconomic Targets 2020-2025  Achieve an economic growth at 6.5 percent or higher.  Per capita income exceeding USD 6500.  The rate of unemployment maintain at less than 4 percent.  The rate of annual inflation not exceeding 5 percent.  Budget deficit at less than 4 percent of GDP  A single digit rate of interest  To maintain the exchange value of the rupee at a stable level 24 Emergency Relief Plan  Introducing a tax payer friendly simple tax system to promote domestic production and to encourage foreign investments  Speedy implementation of economic policies viz & viz tax reduction which will help to reduce the cost of living, expand livelihoods activities in rural and urban areas and improve children‟s nutrition  Establishment of „National Development Bank‟ which will encourage economic fields; import-export trade, construction industry, SME and agriculture through long-term loans at concessionary interest rate.  Rejuvenate the Colombo stock market to regenerate investor confidence. Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Agriculture  Agriculture development through advanced technological innovations  Building up Introduce a „New National Agricultural Policy‟ after an in-depth review of the present policies Energies and Ensuring Farmer welfare  Re-establish the pension scheme for farmers  Introduce an attractive insurance scheme  Introduce an Agriculture Crop Management System  Introduce a simple low interest agricultural credit scheme to farmers  Introduce a new crop insurance scheme 25 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities a healthy and productive nation guaranteeing the people‟s right for safe food.  International export business through various value added products backed up by new technologies capacities of universities, research institutes and private sector will be garnered Expansion of agriculture production by providing good seed and planting materials Promote and popularize organic agriculture during next ten years Increase Land Productivity  A methodology to bring lands to productive uses  Introduction of an integrated soil fertility management system Modernize Agriculture  Introduction of environmental friendly farming  Maximize the economy of water usage  Import of tax free solar powered water pumps and solar cells  high tech agriculture, promoting cooperative farms at regional level  Promote the cultivation and production of OFCs (dried chilies, maize, soya, green grams , cowpea, onions and potatoes) Promote Youth Entrepreneurship  Introduction of import tariff benefits and low interest loan schemes  Building up youth agricultural entrepreneurships 26 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities A Revolution in the use of Fertilizer  Replace the existing fertilizer subsidy scheme with an alternative system  Provide inorganic and organic fertilizer both free of charge to farmers.  Convert traditional farming villages into users of only organic fertilizer.  Develop 2 million home gardens using organic fertilizer  Initiate a programme to produce all essential fertilizers domestically.  Production of bio-fertilizer and organic fertilizer of high standard using the forests and wetlands  Initiate a proper waste management system. Production of Seeds and Planting Materials  Introduce a „domestic seeds policy‟ to produce quality seeds at international standard.  A standards certificate will be made compulsory to import seeds  Promote private sector to produce quality planting material on a large scale.  Establish a seeds bank under the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure seed safety. 27 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Packaging and Storage  tax free importation of machinery and equipment for adding value and processing  Create necessary facilities to store surplus production  Identify locations to build up large scale storage facilities for agricultural produce Marketing and Transport  Promote pre-contracts system along value chains  Set up a new strategic plan for product marketing facilitation  Control importation of agricultural products to maintain reasonable stability in prices of relevant product categories  Make the country self-sufficient in the relevant products.  Introduce an internationally accepted organic product certification system  Sri Lanka Standards Institute will be improved to securing necessary certification.  Introduce a programme of action combining the state and private sector institutions to minimize wastage of products in harvesting, transport and delivery.  Introduce new railway coaches and improve railway infrastructure to expand the role of the railways in goods transport. 28 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Research for Agricultural Innovation  Provide specific proportion of the annual allocation of the Agricultural Ministry to universities and relevant institutions to enhance research facilities  Introduce domestic/foreign investors to produce innovative products under trade names.  Provide assistance to develop innovative bio-pesticides and low cost integrated pest management system.  Establish a patent system so that the researchers could patent their innovations.  Expand and promote agricultural education by providing technological facilities to agricultural colleges.  Facilitate domestic institutions involved in agricultural research to collaborate with international research bodies.  Provide tax relief to private enterprises contributing to agricultural research. Help Paddy Farmers  Set up different guaranteed prices for a kilogram of different varieties of paddy  Expand the role of the Paddy Marketing Board to purchase paddy without delay 29 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Export Crops  Provide subsidies and guaranteed price schemes.  Provide subsidized fertilizer to small and medium enterprises engaged in export crop production  Introduce loan schemes to promote replanting of old plantations.  Establish an internationally accepted product quality inspection system and a system of geographical information certificates.  Prohibit the break-up of tea, rubber and coconut plantations to permit human settlements. Tea  Introduce methods to maintain and improve the quality of Sri Lankan tea.  Promote our tea in international markets as pure Ceylon Tea.  Discourage export of tea in bulk and encourage tea export in value added form.  Re-capture Sri Lanka‟s lost tea markets by collaborative effort by both public and private sectors.  Encourage and promote cultivation of organic tea.  Re-structure Tea Research Institute -productivity and crop quality enhancement and introduce new technology. 30 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Rubber  Introduce new rubber varieties capable of yielding at shorter time  Introduce a new programme to safeguard producers to increase the rubber crop.  Encourage researchers, scientists and producers to undertake the research in value addition and technological innovations.  Strengthen the associations of small and medium scale planters. Coconut  Develop Bio technical solutions to control the various pests  Introduce machines for plucking coconuts and expand their usage.  Provide facilities to Coconut Research Institute and private laboratories to develop high yielding plants.  Promote research to develop coconut varieties for regions where coconut is not widely grown.  Encourage small and medium coconut growers to develop nurseries to produce planting material.  Promote subsidiary crops in coconut plantations to enable coconut growers to increase their incomes.  Distribute high yielding hybrid coconut varieties among people to expand coconut growing in home gardens. 31 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Other Export Crops  Prompt action to ban the import and re-export of minor export crops. Cinnamon  Expand the export of cinnamon  Provide facilities to cultivators to grow cinnamon for export.  Develop new technological methods for extraction and packaging of cinnamon and imports of such high technology equipment will be made free of import tariff.  Establish a technical training course at a suitable NVQ level  Establish cinnamon extraction and preparation centre for the use of owners of plantations of less than five acres.  Initiate assistance schemes to support cinnamon related value added industries. Pepper  Establish a programme to provide technical support to pepper producers.  Impose High tariffs on pepper imports in order to restrict 32 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities the importation of pepper from other countries for re- export purposes.  Initiate low interest subsidized loan schemes to help pepper growers to obtain the required equipment and technical instructions to improve pepper preparation.  Establish export villages in for growing pepper both for domestic use and export.  Provide financial support and required assistance to cultivate products like aloe vera and ginger aiming at foreign markets.  State sponsorship for all export crop development and market expansion. Fisheries Achieve self- sufficiency in fishery products to ensure food security while contributing to the national economy. Introduce a fisheries development plan to provide nutrition to people, increase foreign exchange earnings and provide employment and livelihood opportunities.  Introduction of scientific methods to increase fish population in coastal areas.  Improve the environmental conditions in lagoons.  Modernize all existing fishery harbours and construction of new fishery harbours if needed.  Develop fishery harbour in Oluvil for operation of large- scale boats.  Develop refrigeration systems using sea water for multi- day fishing craft and encourage the use of solar power.  Enable domestic fishing companies to expand fishing in 33 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities international seas.  Develop facilities to construct and maintain large multi- day fishing craft in Trincomalee.  Build-up of all fishery harbours, anchorages and landing sites with modern communication facilities, refrigeration, fuel supply and sanitation facilities.  Introduce an interest free loan scheme for innovations to improve the quality of fish catch throughout the value chain.  Provision of low interest loans, tax benefits, insurance, consultancy and market coordination assistance to develop inland and aquaculture fisheries.  Expand production of canned fish by providing facilities to private companies and entrepreneurs  Develop a programme to involve women in fishery related household industry  Develop a conflict settlement agreement with India, in order to eliminate unauthorized fishing in northern and eastern seas and strengthen navy and coastal guard units.  Commence a programme jointly with the fisheries community associations and the National Aquaculture Development Authority for the expanded breeding of both sea and fresh water fish. 34 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities  Introduce of a productive insurance scheme for the fishing community.  Implement a programme of technical and managerial training in fishery activities for the youth using the Ocean University.  Develop systems of pricing of fish products so that both producer and consumer achieve a fair deal. Livestock Increase the domestic production of liquid milk to fulfill the domestic requirement Milk Production  Undertake research to select and introduce varieties of cattle to suit different geographical regions.  Introduce a “vertical cattle shed system” to maintain a larger number of cattle on smaller areas.  Promote milk production in the Northern Province  Establish a new milk pricing system based on milk quality.  Introduce high quality grass through National Livestock Development Board  Reduce tariffs on quality cattle feed.  Provide Land and investment facilities needed to build up medium and large scale cattle farms  Introduce small-scale solar-powered refrigeration facilities to increase the milk storage facilities  Provide mechanized milking equipment to milk farmers and cooperatives at subsidized prices and easy payment conditions. 35 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Meat and Eggs for Export  Expand production of chicken and eggs and encourage large scale producers to export.  Expand domestic production by promoting small and medium scale producers.  Introduce international standards and effective monitoring systems to animal farms and production facilities.  Provide financial and technical support to commence organic meat production at the household level. Business / Enterprise Development Create a conducive business environment for the business community to build up domestic industry Facilitate entrepreneurship development Protect, safeguard and strengthen domestic entrepreneurs Encourage value addition  Commence discussions with banks to develop systems to providing more time to repay their debts  Advice Central Bank to take out from the CRIB those who have been in that list only for a short period of time  Assistance to re-commence enterprises in bankruptcy through provision of finance at reduced interest rates  Set up industrial cities/ free trade zones, free ports covering all Provinces in economic corridors and surrounding ports and airports in areas such as Colombo and Hambantota.  Bring an Act to the parliament, clearly specify what should and should not happen in free trade zones and industrial towns  Set up a single unified machinery to facilitate export- 36 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities import processes and to eliminate the waste of time in this process  Provide facilities for international business giants to set up their offices in Colombo and in the Port City  Commence international publicity campaign to publicize new economic plan with the assistance of also the private sector to attract foreign private investments into the country  Restrict export of currently identified natural resources (mineral sands, dolomite, phosphate and gems) in raw form  Develop programmes to get higher prices for those through value addition before export.  Make duty free on import of modern high-tech instruments used in jewellery industry in order to promote export of gems embedded in jewellery.  Commence investigations for discovery of resources, believed available in the earth and in the sea bed will be undertaken using high-tech methods  Provide facilities to large-scale businesses to commence production of various high technology products  Protect, safeguard and strengthen domestic entrepreneurs on special focus 37 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities  Restrict entry of foreign enterprises into industrial areas that are easily handled by domestic businesses  Provide facilities to new entrepreneurs to secure needed land, credit facilities, business consultancy, technological and infrastructure facilities in a hassle-free manner  Commence a programme to develop entrepreneurship tendencies in people from school days Tourism Develop as an environmental and domestic- culture friendly industry with extensive people‟s participation Tourism development programme with the intention of increasing annual tourist arrivals to 7 million  Identify new attractions of the country for foreign tourists  Facilitate to hold business conferences, festivals, exhibitions and seminars to attract tourists  Provide investment and other facilities to the private sector to develop tourism  Introduce more efficient immigration and emigration process  Modernize internal airports  Set up tourist service centers at the road junctions connecting main tourist cities  Streamline the processes of approval of tourist facilities while setting up regional offices  Establish tourism training schools in main tourism cities and also introduce attractive skill development courses  Introduce e-based facilities for reservation of hotels, transport, guides, domestic air tickets and admission card (Single booking software system and Electronic gate systems 38 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities  Increase the numbers of workers up to million in the tourism industry  Initiate a strategic marketing and advertising programme to promote tourism  Provide incentives to set up high quality tourist hotels and increase number of hotel rooms currently available up to double.  Initiate an enable environment for local performers to attract tourist  Revise labour laws governing tourist sector workers  Develop household related and community-based tourism  Register, train and certify all tourist guides and drivers to prevent unnecessary harassment of tourists , ensure security and protection for the tourists  Establish tourist police service near tourist centers Apparel Industry Increase export earnings, contribution to the GDP, employment and regional development Facilitate for further development Revisit taxes on the sector  Develop a garment town in Eravur area as planned by BOI and LRC  Examine and match speedy revisions for unjustifiable taxes on this and other foreign exchange earning industries 39 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Construction Industry Prepare the background for construction industry to expand to overseas as an environment friendly industry with typical Sri Lankan characteristics Facilitate a speedy approval process Ensure the security of domestic small and medium sub- contracting firms Investment assistance to move to technical solutions to address labour shortage  Establish a system in which all required approvals can be obtained in one place or through the Internet.  Reduce time taken for approval of any building to be constructed to a total of 3 weeks.  Put in place a system to make all urban construction agree with prevailing urban development plans.  Make mandatary of vehicle parks for all urban constructions  Provide opportunity to pay past loans subject to grace periods that could be negotiated  Replace the present system with the 2014 tax system and scrap the 15% VAT on apartments  Reserve all state construction work for the domestic construction firms  Establish a new system in the handling of relations between construction firms and banks via Central Bank  Revise the licensing system that operates today to regulate construction firms in their procurement of raw material  Create facilities to train workers for the machinery to be increasingly used in the industry to overcome the issue of labour shortage  Train the youth to take up jobs in technical grades and there will also be training of required technologists  Set up an advisory committee consisting of professional 40 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities engineers and high-level technologists to help construction firms obtain required consultancy assistance  Facilitate for collaboration among the industry, architects‟ association, Institute of Engineers and universities.  Ensure the security of domestic small and medium sub- contracting firms through legislation Sugar Manufacturing Sugar needs be met with domestically produced sugar Facilitating and encouraging sugar Industry  Expand the Extent of land earmarked for cultivation of sugar cane.  Introduce high yielding sugar cane varieties  Reopen Kanthale and other sugar factories  Provide incentives for the private sector to commence new sugar factories  Provide the needs of sugar cane cultivation firms, in terms of water and technical knowledge, capital needs Small and Medium Industries SMI with Value addition Overcome overlaps in serving SMI sector Ease the scarcity of raw material  Develop a method to serve all needs by one organization  Provide necessary encouragements for the purpose to undertake value added activities  Lease out the underutilized state lands under a cooperative system to cultivate necessary crops to supply these raw material needs of carpentry industry, cane industry and reed industry  Allow duties free from importation of logs to ease the raw material scarcity faced by timber and furniture industry 41 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Cooperative Movement Build a strong domestic cooperative movement to play a significant role in production process while serving economic needs of the village A developed and expanded system of production cooperatives Make engage of youth and Female participation De politicize Cooperatives  Establish a developed and expanded system of production cooperatives in the fields of agriculture, milk production, fisheries and minor crop production  Make responsible of production cooperatives for raw material supply, raising capital and marketing in respect of traditional industries  Encourage the young and female entrepreneurs through production cooperatives to develop export- oriented value added industries  Set up a cooperative development bank by all cooperative societies working together  Modernize the cooperative sales outlets that operate everywhere in the country  Equip cooperatives with modern computer facilities  Revise wage of cooperative workers upwards  Change the cooperative law in collaboration with Provincial governments to provide business freedom to cooperatives 42 43 Chapter 6 A Technology Based Society Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Technology and Innovations Establishing a Technology Based Society (Smart Nation) Establish Sri Lanka as a Global Innovation Hub Maximize the use of innovative measures in –  Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI),  Biotechnology, Robotics, Augmented Reality,  Cloud Computing, Nanotechnology, 3D printing Set up a Citizen Centric Digital Government for the convenience of citizens  Establish nine Citizen Service Centres to adopt new technologies for public service delivery ( ID cards, passports, driving license etc.)  Introduce a digital & electronic payment system to pay traffic fines  Establish an e-procurement system to eliminate bribery & corruption Establish Digitally Inclusive Sri Lanka  Establish a country wide high speed optical data transmission system and a high speed 5G Mobile Broadband System to facilitate data transmission  Establish digital cities with digital administration & monitoring  Introduce a mobile & digital payment system to handle all financial transactions  Place a cross border e-commerce and International e-payment system  Introduce new legislation to ensure data protection, cyber security and Intellectual Property Rights 44 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Promote IT Entrepreneurship  Make USD 3 Mn worth export industry by 2025 by developing Business Process Outsourcing(BPO) & Knowledge Process outsourcing (KPO)  Set up IT centres and BPO centres in connecting cities.  Increase no. of software engineers and programmers to 300,000 by 2025  Encourage local software engineers and IT designers to develop software locally instead of importing  Support local entrepreneurs to develop software for international market 45 Chapter 07 New Approach in National Spatial System “Bridging the urban and rural gap by providing services and infrastructure facilities equally across the sectors of living”  Integrated physical spatial system to address disparities in urbanization  Integrating all major cities, townships, business zones to promote „agro-industrialization‟, to promote tourism and to ensure value added production process  Establishing a „C-shaped economic corridor‟ system connecting two main ports and airports while integrating all business zones.  Developing transport network for an efficient and environmentally friendly public transport system  Converting international airports and seaports to commercial and passenger ports  Increasing access to low cost energy  Ensuring entire population in the country is provided with clean & safe drinking water while increasing the access to pipe borne water  Ensuring privative measures and early warning systems to minimize the loss of lives, property and economic damage from the disasters Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Re- engineering Townships Integrating physical spatial system to address Addressing disparities in urbanization  Develop Colombo,Hambantota, Jaffna, and Trincomalee as Four Multi-dimensional Commercial Cities to connect national and international centers 46 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities disparities in urbanization and change the structural pattern of our cities. through establishing different strata of cities considering the their geographical, historical, social and economic value and interconnectedness with the proposed C zone  Develop Kandy, Anuradhapura, Gampaha, Ratnapura, Galle, Badulla, Mannar, Batticaloa, and Kurunegala as national cities  Develop Puttalam, Negambo, Pothuvil, Dambulla, Matara, Nuwara Eliya and Buttala as connecting cities to commercial and national cities. Creating conducive location for urban living through introduction of IT, knowledge and tourism  Develop cluster cities supplemented with information technology, knowledge and tourism services 47 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities New Colombo- Commercial and Financial Hub “New Colombo” of the 21st century Making Colombo the Centre for global commerce, trade finance, and banking  Introduction of legal and financial provisions to make Colombo an international commercial and financial hub Development of a modern rapid transport system to ease congestion in transport and commuting  Develop a Metro Rail system to link the satellite cities in the Colombo district including the Port City.  Develop a Light Rail Transit (LRT) system to ease congestion in transport and commuting  Introduce a Radial and Circular road system while adding sky bridges, vertical parking lots and flyovers in key areas Beautification of Colombo city  Introduce beautiful urban forests, water gardens, and green belts on either side of the highways  Introduce an efficient garbage, sewage and liquid waste management system as well as a water purification system Land Transport High priority to upgrade and develop road and rail infrastructure to provide comfortable, efficient and Development of road network  Rehabilitate unfinished roads connecting respective economic corridors  Complete construction of Colombo-Kandy, Port Access Elevated Expressway, Northern Expressway, Ratnapura Expressway, New Kelani Bridge to Athurugiriya expressway without further delays  Conduct feasibility study to construct an elevated highway 48 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities environment friendly transportation system to the general public while ensuring economic growth between Kandy and Nuwaraeliya  Remove traffic bottlenecks by introducing overtaking lanes  Resurface and modernize rural road network  Develop an alternative road system to facilitate higher level of access to main roads and expressways Development of road transportation  Modernize Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB)  Develop bus stands located on prime lands for commercial purposes to generate additional revenue to SLTB.  Re-fleet the current bus stock and introduce environmentally friendly (Green Transport) busses to ply within the city limits of the New Colombo  Introduce „park and ride‟ system  Support private bus operators by proving bank loans, tax relief to run profitably and to provide a better service to the public  Introduce a common time table for both public and private passenger transport  Assist private passenger transport bus operators to re-fleet and comply with the green transport  Introduce single transport e-ticket system common for both public and private transport services 49 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities  Training and skill development of all public and private bus operators to ensure disciplined, reliable and clean public transport service  Revise and revisit current traffic fine system and establish a mechanism that would make private bus operators disciplined, strictly obey traffic rules and comply with other public safety standards Development of rail transportation system  Develop bus routes linking rail services to ensure proper inter- modal connectivity  Develop and upgrade existing rolling stock  Rehabilitation of existing rail tracks  Electrify Veyangoda-Colombo-Panadura, Ragama-Katunayaka- Negombo and Maradana-Homagama railway lines  Introduce e-ticketing system  Promote and expand rail based cargo transportation with required infrastructure and rolling stock facilities  Provide assistance to import locomotives and to build trailers locally  Establish and expand facilities required to transport cargo via trains to Colombo, Hambantota, Kankasanthurai and Trincomalee ports  Convert key train stations to commercially viable malls and shops 50 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Development of Canal Transportation system  Develop and extend canal transportation as a new mode of transport Sea Transport Develop ports to facilitate import and export while ensuring higher efficiency competitive to the other regional ports Development of Colombo Port  Colombo and Hambantota sea ports as commercial and passenger ports and convert into free ports  Upgrade Colombo port to double the transshipment handling capacity  Prioritize the development of East Container Terminal (ECT)  Feasibility study to construct a new cross-berth terminal between ECT and SAGT  Develop West Container Terminal with private sector participation  Use rail transportation to transport containers  Develop road and rail based three container depots in Peliyagoda, Veyangoda and Ratmalana with the participation of private sector Development of Hambantota Port  Revisit the signed agreement and explore possibilities to how best we could bring about a win-win situation for Sri Lanka and China  Develop as an industrial and service port and establish facilities for local businesses to provide services such as ship maintenance, repair and ship chandelling 51 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities  Provide all physical infrastructure required for Hambantota Free Trade Zone Development of other Ports  Develop Galle, Kankasanthurai and Trincomalee according to the requirement of each region and needs of national economy Air Transport Develop airports and related infrastructure to facilitate domestic and international passenger and cargo movements Development of airport infrastructure  Develop second runaway and passenger terminal of Katunayaka airport  Develop a domestic passenger terminal at Katunayaka Airport  Commence commercial operations of Mattala airport  Upgrade facilities of Mattala airport  Development of domestic airports including Nuwareliya airport Power and Energy Assure availability of low-cost energy which is needed for accelerating economic growth Improving existing energy mix  Enhance the contribution of hydro and renewable energy to 80 percent of the overall energy mix by 2030  Assurance of energy security and self-sufficiency  Expedite exploration of natural gas  Modernize Kolonnawa oil refinery  Reconstruct and develop oil storage tanks in Trincomalee 52 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities  Add 230MW of power to the national grid by establishing Broadland hydropower station by 2020, Uma oya by 2021, Moragolla by 2023, Talapitigala and Seethawaka by 2024  Convert Kelanitissa plant to a natural gas turbine plant and implement two similar plants in Kerawalapitiya and Hambantota before 2023  Convert all fuel-powered plants in Colombo area to natural gas turbine plants  Develop a smart grid to ensure efficiency and maximum utilization of generated power Transforming the country‟s energy mix towards renewable energy  Add 100MW of wind energy in Mannar by 2021 and add 800MW of solar energy by executing wind and solar projects in Mannar, Poonareyn and Monaragala  Encourage rooftop solar systems to ensure availability of low-cost energy for households and small business  Encourage private sector and entrepreneurs to setup renewable energy projects  Encourage efficient energy generation programme by utilizing industrial wastes  Maximize energy use in construction sector by introducing new policies and legislations 53 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Water Ensuring water for all Ensure water resources are free from pollution and manage it in an efficient manner for drinking and agriculture purposes.  Make awareness campaign to educate people with the support of university students, school children and youngsters about keeping water resources clean.  Involvement of local police and communities of the area for further continuation of the campaign.  Encourage application of modern techniques and drip irrigation into the agriculture for the efficient water usage.  For this, introduce low interest loans and tax relief.  Protect rivers, lakes and reservoirs/tanks from chemicals, pesticides and other harmful chemicals.  Increase water storage capacity by expanding the existing capacities of tanks/reservoirs and constructing new tanks and reservoirs.  Introduce a water storage mechanism for all new houses located in water-scarce areas to recharge the ground water and reduce ground water misuse. Strengthen the flood control systems and drought management capacity.  Develop a flood control mechanism by establishing pumping methods and storages.  Divert water to dry areas through drainage and canals system.  Form a committee consisting of experts to execute this purpose. 54 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Ensure 24 hour reliable water service  Expand and improve the efficiency of current projects implemented by National Water Supply & Drainage Board and Community Water Supply Projects.  Introduce new legislation to establish appropriate water recycling processes for all industrial and commercial constructions. Disaster Management Protecting the lives, property and economic damages from disasters Making internal system of disaster management functioning in a synchronized manner  Revise the Disaster Management Act to manage all forms of disasters Strengthening disaster warning system  Provide the latest equipment, technology and knowledge needed to bring proactive solutions to the Meteorology Department Strengthening the institutions with powers and facilities to act swiftly and responsibly  Provide all required facilities and legal power to the National Building Research Organization  Institutionalize a “Disaster Management Authority” under the Ministry of Disaster Management by amalgamating Disaster Management Centre and the Disaster Relief Centre 55 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Ensuring the data availability for planning and informed decision making  Develop a “National Disaster Database” including disaster- affected and potential disaster-prone areas, people, properties, businesses and agricultural lands to provide early warnings and to take preventive measures Ensuring appropriate compensation for affected people and properties  Revisit and correct the compensations made to the affected people, houses, other properties, lands and agricultural lands related to projects such as “Uma Oya” Ensuring the safety of vulnerable people such as women and children  Establish a permanent “Care Centre System” to facilitate and minimize the difficulties faced by the people, especially the women and children, who are frequently affected by natural disasters  Fabricating a procedure to rent the “Care Centers” in disaster-free periods to meet the expenses required to maintain these centers Mitigating Human Elephant Conflict (HEC)  Erect robust and strengthened electric fences  Establish water sources dedicated to elephants  Provide financial assistance to all the victims of HEC 56 57 Chapter 08 Sustainable Environmental Policy “Achieving sustainable development through balanced social, economic and environmental practices”  Environmental regulation for conservation and protection  Updating the existing environmental policies , rules and regulations  Integrating the SDGs into development framework  Incorporating the indigenous knowledge and technologies into sustainable development  Coordinating at all administrative levels to ensure upgrading living standards Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Land Utilizing the land for the sole betterment of all Sri Lankans Revitalization of National Physical Plan  Sustainable land-use in agriculture , animal husbandry and plantation Land slide mitigation  Re-establish & enhance the green cover  Introduce sophisticated technologies Conservation of sensitive ecosystems  Control human impacts on marshy lands and mangroves Restoring barren and abandoned lands  Identify barren and abandoned lands  Utilize them for agriculture and forestry 58 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Waste Management Sustainable consumption & production/ “Waste” to “Resource” Integrating 3R( reduce, re-use and re- cycle) concept  Establish eco-industrial zones  Raise awareness on waste generation and waste sorting  Introduce sustainable consumption concepts from childhood  Make mandatory of waste sorting and separation in household and industry level Safeguarding the coastal areas and marine environment  Develop an action plan to safeguard the ocean from pollution Establishing waste collection and disposal systems  Establish shared sanitary landfills for local authorities  Introducing incinerators for clinical and industrial waste disposal Enforcing regulations in waste disposal  Identify illegal and irresponsible waste disposers and law enforcement Atmosphere Net Carbon Zero Country Controlling air pollution including Carbon emissions  Plant trees, establish urban forests, green paths, green roofs and agroforestry systems Encouraging de- carbonization  Reduce fossil fuel consumption in transportation, industries and construction sectors Environment and Biodiversity Environment and Biodiversity Conservation and Protection Overcome Institutional bottlenecks and red tapes  Establish a single authority / centralized system with the mandate of protection, conservation and rehabilitation of biodiversity to reduce complexities of the present environmental regulatory framework 59 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Sustainable land and water resource management Increasing national forest cover up to 30%  Identify and reforestation of suitable lands  Establish parks in urban and semi-urban areas  developing urban vegetation by establishing tree lines along express ways  implement tree planting programmes in industrial premises  Restoration and rehabilitation degraded ecosystems Introducing appropriate regulations for sand mining  Establish specific zones for riverine and ground sand mining Biodiversity for Economic perspectives Integrating biodiversity based tourism, education and cultural events  Promote eco-tourism  Encourage biodiversity education and culture events  Pursuing eco entrepreneurship opportunities based on environmental protection and conservation 60 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Ocean Resources Blue- Green Economy Sustainable Ocean Resource Management  Upgrade Ocean University on par with international standards  Promote ocean exploration  Ensure coastal erosion mitigation  Promote off-shore sea sand for construction industry  Issuing quality certificates for sieved and purified sea sands Settlements and Cities Green ,Smart Cities resilient cities and settlements Ensuring Sustainable Land Use planning  Identify appropriate lands for development activities to minimize the environmental impacts  Carry out Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) for each district  Enforce Vertical Green Development for settlements  (High rise development) Promoting Disaster Resilient Villages  Develop of rural infrastructure resilient to natural disasters Environmental Education Creating an environmental sensitive community Incorporating environmental education in to educational system  Integrate environmental educational components into school curricular from grade 1 onwards  Promote awareness and positive attitude change  Develop targeted programmes for school children, youth and community to promote awareness and positive attitude change 61 Chapter 09 A Righteous Disciplined and Law Abiding Society  The Foremost Place to Religion  Through rule of law is to build a civilized society.  Properly conserve the History, Archeology and National Heritage for future generations.  Establish unconstrained opportunities for the communication of information knowledge and opinions.  Reduce social inequality and protect vulnerable people as government responsibility. Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Religion Protect the rights of every religion The Foremost Place to Religion Establish religious harmony and integration with each religion.  Launch a programme in collaboration with Provincial Councils to take care of shortcomings of registered religious schools belonging to all religious faiths. Implement a national programme named “Sasun Udawa”  Develop all infrastructure facilities of temples in remote locations 62 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities  Introduce a new educational programme to develop English language, computer and technical skills of young Buddhist monks  A monthly sponsorship programme will be introduced to reimburse the educational expenses of student monks Implement a programme named “Budu-puth Ma-piya Harasara”  Provide assistance to parents who have given over their children to the Buddhist order. Implement a special programme to uplift pirivena education  Resolve issues of appointments, salaries/ wages of principals and teachers of Pirivenas and Dhamma school teachers Law Abiding and Fair Society Protect the rule of law Create a proper environment where law enforcement agencies and law enforcement officers shall be subject to the rule of law  Amend obsolete legal procedures and ordinances to ensure the country‟s legal system matches well with international laws.  Empower the arbitration process to settle civil disputes at Mediation Boards instead of being taken to the courts of law.  Provide training on law enforcement procedures and mechanisms to relevant personnel  Introduce a transparent mechanism in the appointment of judges and in filling up higher positions in the legal sector. Eliminate delays in the dispensation of justice.  Introduce digital technology to improve the coordination between the judicial system and related agencies. 63 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Provide facilities to enable lawyers to carry out their duties with professional dignity.  Provide continuous professional development through establishment of a superior legal education system.  Introduce a transparent and straight forward system to oversee the appointment of President‟s Counsels. Mass Media Introduce a transparent Mass Media Policy Create unhindered opportunities for communication of information, knowledge and opinions  Uphold media standards to national and international regulations  Formulate guidelines within the framework of journalists‟ associations, the culture of mass media organizations, accepted societal norms for family and human interrelationship and values.  Set up a “Higher Education Institute for Mass-media” on par with international standards.  Appoint a committee of experts to develop mass media education conforming to high academic standards.  Restructure the press council  Set up a housing complex for mass media professionals in the city and introduce a concessionary vehicle loan scheme  Set up press clubs provincially to provide facilities for journalists.  Provide education to the society on the use, handling and the adoption of communication strategies with regard to new forms of media including social media. 64 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Establish a commission accountable to the Parliament and set up Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation under the said commission to free from the pressure of financial competition History, Archeology and National Heritage Conserve History, Archeology and National Heritage for future generation Not allow any party to destroy or vandalize heritage and archeological sites  Amend legal ordinances to provide archeological sites with the highest security and launch a coordination programme.  Carryout a comprehensive study on Central Curtual Fund to restructure it and create a “Digital Archeological Encyclopedia” for all religions.  Provide basic amenities for tourists who visit the places of national importance.  Set up a scheme to provide tourist guides with accurate knowledge and information to prevent wrong information being disseminated to tourists. Culture, Literature and the Arts Develop and preserve high standard taste of culture, literature Increase funds to preserve culture, literature, arts and their creations.  Set up a new scheme to promote the writing of short stories, novels and poetry, their publication and marketing.  Establish a proper mechanism to ensure royalty payments to authors 65 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities and arts. from publishing contracts.  Increase funds to expand the publication assistance project implemented by the National Library and Documentation Services Board.  Provide special assistance to translate best works of Sinhala literature to English and Tamil and vice versa and revitalize library system across the country with modern technology.  Expand the space to use e-books.  Provide tax concessions for authors and publishers to purches printing metirials and printing mechines. Theatre/ stage drama Provide modern facilities and new technology to theatre/ stage drama  Establish modern state-of-the-art theatre and provide free of charge to producers.  Provide necessary facilities with latest technology to theatres  Revitalize Professor Ediriiweera Sarachchandra Drama Training School of Department of Cultural Affairs and provide funds to reproduce great works of stage/theatre  Provide tax concessions to stage drama producers Cinema Industry Establish a special task force to study the deep rooted problems in the film industry.  Provide government sponsored assistance to produce high quality creative films  Set up a state-of-the-art film processing laboratory.  Provide assistance to set up smaller cinema halls in urban apartment complexes and multi-purpose trade centers and convert local cinema halls to digital cinemas.  Modernize the National Film Corporation 66 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Music Formalize the effective execution of royalty collection  Introduce a proper procedure in line with international best practices to resolve prevailing issues in payment of royalties to the lyricist and the composer of its music.  Make compulsory royalty payments on a semi-annual basis.  Increase current royalties to lyricists, composers or performers for their musical works prepared for commercial use by the telecommunication companies by 50%. Provide facilities for eaily carrier composes to produce the high quality artistic products in the musical theatre performance, opera etc.  Provide tax concession to the private sector for construction of complete visual and sound laboratories  Reduce taxes currently being imposed on organizing musical shows Dancing Measures to protect traditional dancing practices. Provide continuous support for creation of traditional up- country, low-country and Sabaragamuwa dancing traditions  Link traditional and modern dancing industry with tourism sector.  Expand traditional art of dancing through visual media and modern technology 67 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Arts and Sculpture Sector Provide opportunities to exhibit and marketing arts and sculpture products  Set up a fully-fledged art and sculpture exhibition theatre  Set up similar art theatre networks in all districts  Establish a practical coordination framework to link arts and sculpture sectors with the tourism sector  Set up a special museum to protect and display excellent creations of art and sculpture Shanthikarma and Traditional Rituals Establish a special regulatory body under the Cultural Ministry to resolve problems and to address issues in “bali thovil and shanthikarma”  Set up a framework to provide raw materials and store them. Social Protection and Welfare Establish a Framework of Making Low Income Earners as High Income Earners  Restart and revitalize the Divineguma programme.  Provide professional training opportunities to youth in Samurdhi families  Increase all existing Samurdhi benefits provided for low income families  Restructure all the Samurdhi using modern technology  Resolve issues with regard to salaries, allowances, promotions and pensions of employees in Samurdhi Development Department  Set up new contributory pension scheme for people who are not receiving pension at present 68 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities  Increase monthly allowances currently provided for fatal diseases  Provide a monthly allowance for single parent family with kids below 12 years of age and does not have any income sources. Crime Road Accidents  Strengthen the police by providing modern technical know-how for combating all kinds of crime  Restructure the court system to complete all criminal cases in courts without delay.  Establish a special regulatory mechanism to prevent political support for criminals.  Establish a new advanced equipment and processes to monitor criminals in prison.  Establish two fully fledged rehabilitation centres for first-time prisoners and prisoners who have been jailed for small offences.  Formulate a special programme of action to rehabilitate people who are returning to prisons at regular intervals.  Construct pedestrian paths on all roads and establish a mechanism for pedestrians to cross roads only in designated places.  Monitor all major roads of the country through CCTV cameras  Revisit existing laws to provide reasonable compensation for deaths and irreversible disabilities, due to road accidents. 69 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Animals  Establish a strong framework for the protection of , all other wild animals including elephants and birds  Enforce strong legal action against the personnel guilty of brutal killing of elephants during the last five years  establish special protection centres for protecting discarded pets on roadsides  Introduce concessionary pricing scheme for medicines and other needs of pets.  Establish animal friendly children‟s societies‟ to sensitize children on the need to be kind to animals. 70 71 Chapter 10 Dialogue with the Village  By 2025, our actions will result in isolated village‟s transitioning to fully integrated economy centres with all facilities.  Our aim is to develop the Northern and the eastern provinces where all citizens can live without fear and suspicion  Estate population predominantly working in the tea industry is recognized and accepted by us as equals enjoying the same rights. Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Rural Development Launching an appropriate system to ensure that all villages encompass of all essential facilities Establishment of People-Centric Board and People- Centric Centers  Set up a people-centric board at every Grama Sewa division under the purview of each village‟s religious leaders, educated and knowledgeable seniors, youth leaders and women representatives to perform following activities; - to take care of functionality of electricity, clean drinking water, road network, irrigation network, pre-school, maternal and child clinics, community centre, playground and waste management - to monitor and follow up on necessary technology, research and equipment required for agriculture, fisheries and small industries  Establish one people-centric centre in each Grama Sewa 72 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities division; - to accommodate the Grama Niladhari, Samurdhi Development Officers, Agricultural Research & Production Officer and Family Health Officers - to provide services such as; internet facilities for the youth, e-library, children‟s centre, smart teaching room and technical service centre. Women Empowerment Uplifting women and make them into farming entrepreneurs and enhance involvement of the village women in economic activities Recognizing the invaluable effort and enhance contribution of the village women in economic activities.  Devise a state-sponsored mechanism, where women entrepreneurs can get involved in small and medium enterprises related to handlooms, garments, crochet, lace, cane, clay pottery, coir, dried fish and fisheries for identified target markets  Encourage the unemployed members of households, especially the housewives to utilize naturally available excess fruits and vegetables in their own gardens to produce value added products  Provide them with raw materials for value-adding production centers  Create a separate system to collect these products from their households and introduce a mobile application to connect and exchange information  Ensure relief of village women falling victim from unregulated micro finance schemes. 73 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities Regional Development Linking the village development together with the regional development Developing cities as metropolitan areas and villages as regional areas  Appoint an empowered committee to reassess and allocate new provincial boundaries based on geographical, population and administration aspects.  Provide Provincial Councils with added powers to carry out development work pertaining to its Pradeshiya Sabhas, Urban Councils and Municipal Councils within the regional development plan.  Instruct relevant ministries to directly provide the allocated funding without delay to the Provincial councils to be utilized in the village and local area development work  Complete the development projects of Grama Sewa divisions in an efficient and transparent manner within the stipulated time frame by the Provincial councils, with the help of their people-centric boards Regional Development – Northern and Eastern Provinces Making all Sri Lankans free from terrorism Uplifting the economic standards and livelihoods of the people in Northern and Eastern areas  Launch “Punarjeewana Fund” to ensure the upliftment of the economic standards and livelihoods of the people and following facilities will be provided through this programme; − Housing for families affected by the 30-year war − Government-sponsored concessionary loan schemes and agricultural loans will be granted for women entrepreneurs trapped under various micro finance schemes. − Investment schemes for rehabilitated youth to become 74 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities entrepreneurs. − Accommodate large and medium scale industries to provide jobs for the youth in Economic Development Zones started by our government and the east will be given adequate capital investments. − Loans to youth for vocational training and vocational education that can be repaid when they find employment in their trade.  Release all private lands currently being held by the government to their respective owners and allocate government lands for large and medium scale agricultural projects and the farmers will be issued permit for lands.  Give priority to its inhabitants in recruiting employees for government jobs in these areas and people that have ability to converse in the Tamil language when recruiting police officers to serve in above areas.  Create Economic Zones in every district for agricultural entrepreneurs to add value to their products and start-up small and medium-scale businesses.  Develop Universities, vocational training institutes, technical colleges, information technology institutes and agricultural research institutes as avenues to fulfil ambitions of the youth.  Establish a “Nelum Pokuna” in Jaffna to encourage youth for 75 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities visual arts and hold regular performances at this venue to create awareness and develop interests.  Establish an international sports stadium and a cricket ground in both these provinces. Regional Development- Estate Sector Enhancing the Estate Sector Ensuring developed economy, housing, education and healthcare facilities in the Estate Sector.  Increase daily wage to Rs. 1,000.  Establish a programme using unused estate land to develop horticulture and organic products to cater domestic and export markets and cultivate other crops that complement the geographical climate.  Provide schools with required human resources and infrastructure facilities to conduct science and commerce streams and provide a permanent resolution for teaching assistants who were employed in an ad-hoc manner.  Introduce low-rise housing schemes with fully-fledged health care centres, pre-schools and community centres for every estate family with the support of the estate owners.  Implement a “New Nutrition Aid Programme” to provide proper nutrition need for pregnant women and infants and upgrade all hospitals and clinics with human and infrastructure facilities.  Implement an “Agricultural Institute” to impart agricultural research knowledge and modern technical knowhow. 76 Sub- Sector Sectoral Policies and Policy Component Strategies Activities  Establish a fully-fledged Tamil Medium Teacher Training College and a branch of the Sri Lanka Open University in Hatton for vocational education.  Establish an industrial zone covering the whole estate sector and to analyze the viability of re-opening factories that have been closed down.  Capital infusion for replanting and fertilization together with streamlined management processes for government-owned estates to increase productivity.  Renovate old bungalows and tea factories into attractive tourist destinations.