Implementation of Project for Building Secure, Skilled, and Empowered Community for the Families Resettled at the Housing Scheme at Kalinga Mawatha, Colombo 05, Constructed under the Urban Regeneration Project

The housing scheme at Kalinga Mawatha, Colombo 05 has comprised of 528 houses and 384 of which are occupied by families relocated from underprivileged urban settlements.

Although, they have obtained permanent houses, it has been observed that these residents are encountering various complex social- economic challenges due to changing their traditional life style.

Therefore, the Agromart Outreach Foundation has submitted a project proposal to implement a project under multilateral involvement for empowering the aforementioned families.

Under this project, it is planned to implement a relevant low-
income women’s empowerment project within three years, covering four primary sections : Needs Assessment, Economic Transformation, Holistic Family Support, and Sustainable
Integration .

The Ministry of Women and Child Affairs will provide the necessary policy guidance and administrative sponsorship, while the Agromart Outreach Foundation will provide technical expertise and funds for the execution of the project.

The Urban Development Authority will intervene as the facilitating partner authority.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal furnished by the Minister of Women and Child Affairs to implement the proposed project and sign the Memorandum of
Understanding between the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs and the Agromart Outreach Foundation.

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Council, and Local Government to appoint a Cabinet Sub-Committee chaired by the Prime Minister and with the participation of relevant Ministers, to organize and direct the affairs of the country’s 79th Independence Day Commemoration
Ceremony, which falls on 2027-02-04.

As per the decision taken at the cabinet meeting held on 27-06-2017, the administrative activities of the Dr. Nevil Fernando Hospital were transferred to the Ministry in charge of health, with effect from 01-08-2017.

Subsequently, the cabinet meeting held on 09-02-2026 granted approval for the management activities of the aforementioned hospital to be carried out under the Sri Lanka Air Force, in accordance with the Hybrid Mission Specimen, and to
be implemented under the Public Enterprise established by the Companies Act.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development; the Ministry of Defense; the Ministry of Health and Mass Media; and the Sri Lanka Air Force have proposed a joint management and control framework to manage the Dr. Nevil Fernando Hospital.

According to this proposed management framework, Dr. Nevil Fernando Hospital provides in-house and outpatient treatments for patients, both free of charge and on a charging basis.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the joint resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as Minister of Defense and the Minister of Health and Mass Media to implement the proposed management framework as follows.

• The ownership and the assets will be transferred to the company with 100% of the shares under Treasury, and the management of the hospital will be conducted by the Sri Lanka
Air Force.

• The Secretary to the Treasury will appoint 11 individuals to the Board of Directors of the proposed company, based on the recommendation of the Secretary of the Ministry of Defense.

• The General Treasury is to provide the necessary provisions for the salaries and operations of the staff of the proposed company for the period 2026-2028. Subsequently, the hospital
will be maintained as a self-financing institution.

• Supply medicines, medical supplies, and other consumable items to the hospital annually, at an estimated cost of 125 million rupees, through the provisions allocated for the Ministry of Health and Mass Media for the health services provided to the public by the hospital free of charge.