Sri Lanka Accountants’ Service, Sri Lanka Engineering Service, Sri Lanka Scientific Service, Sri Lanka Education Administrative Service, Sri Lanka Planning Service, Sri Lanka Agriculture Service, Sri Lanka Animal Production and Health Service, Sri Lanka Architects’ Service and Sri Lanka Surveyors’ Service.                           

Jayasuriya said that a study on the current situation has revealed, that there are numerous advantages to be obtained by re-organizing the system of examinations including curbing additional costs.  

Accordingly, a common examination notice will be published in the Gazette with respect to holding an examination for recruitment to all these services. The skills shown by candidates at this examination will be treated as the basic qualification for recruitment. 

"It is envisaged that this procedure will help cut expenses by 40 per cent, with the preparation of only 19 question papers as opposed to the current 39, decrease the personal expenses borne by candidates, create a healthy atmosphere for new graduates to apply for the examination immediately after passing out from universities, enable examinations to be held within a specific period each calendar year, facilitate the candidates on their option, to apply for several services at once and facilitate the organization of induction training ensuring integrity and mutual understanding among newly recruited officers." 

The Cabinet has also approved a proposal submitted by Plantations Minister D. M. Jayaratne to acquire free of charge and under the provisions in the Land Reforms Commission Act lands amounting in extent of 2,904 acres, 02 roods and 32.7 perches which are in the possession of and have been developed by the Coconut Cultivation Board (CCB) for a long period for the CCB. 

In this regard, it was noted that the said lands have been transferred by the Land Reform Commission to the CCB in the period 1979 -1983 with the intention of transferring them into model gardens and nurseries.  Approximately Rs. 100 million has been invested by the CCB for buildings and construction, irrigation works and coconut under-planting and new planting. 

Among the other proposals approved was a Memorandum by Water Supply and Drainage Minister A.L.M. Athaullah to implement the Greater Ratnapura Water Supply Scheme and accordingly direct the External Resources Department (ERD) to seek funding from the Government of Spain or any other suitable source for the same.

Cabinet also agreed to direct the Department of Public Finance to appoint a Project Committee and to appoint a negotiation committee to evaluate and negotiate the project proposal submitted by BEFESA AGUA of Spain.