PARLIAMENT

The Hon. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, the Speaker took the Chair.


Presentation of Papers

(i)    Annual Report and Accounts of the Local Loans and Development Fund for the year 2020
(ii)    Annual Report & Financial Statements of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University for the year 2021
(iii)    Annual Reports of the Skills Development Fund Limited for the years 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017
(iv)    Annual Report of the Coconut Development Authority for the year 2020

(v) Order made by the Minister of Investment Promotion under Section 14 of the Sri Lanka Export Development Act, No. 40 of 1979 with regard to amend the rate of CESS and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2306/15 of 14th November 2022
(vi)    Resolution under Section 10 of the Customs Ordinance (Chapter 235) relating to Import Duties
    (Gazette Extraordinary No. 2312/75 of 01st January 2023)
(vii)    Reports on the Submission of observations and steps taken in terms of the Standing Order 119(4) of the Parliament with regard to the matters mentioned on the District Secretariats – Polonnaruwa, Batticaloa, Puttalam, Mannar, Kandy, Badulla, Galle, Colombo, Matara and Kegalle in the reports of the Committee on Public Accounts which were presented to Parliament
(viii)    Report on the Submission of observations and steps taken in terms of the Standing Order 119(4) of the Parliament with regard to the matters mentioned on the Registrar Generals’ Department in the report of the Committee on Public Accounts which was presented to Parliament
(ix)    Order made by the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies under Section 10A of the Customs Ordinance (Chapter 235) relating to surcharge on Customs Duty payable on imported goods and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2308/16 of 30th November 2022
(x)    Order made by the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies under Section 10A of the Customs Ordinance (Chapter 235) relating to surcharge on Customs Duty payable on imported goods and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2313/35 of 04th January 2023


Presentation of Reports from the Committees

(i)    The Interim Report of the Select Committee to Look into and Report to Parliament its Recommendations to Ensure Gender Equity and Equality with Special Emphasis on Looking into Gender Based Discriminations and Violations of Women’s Rights in Sri Lanka was presented by the Hon. (Dr.) (Mrs.) Sudarshini Fernandopulle, the Chair of the Committee.
(ii)    The Report on the Establishment of the National Policy Commission of the Sub - Committee of the the National Council on Identifying the Priorities in Formulation of Short, Medium & Long Term National Policies was presented by the Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney at Law, the Chair of the Committee.


Presentation of Petitions

(i)    The Hon. Sarathi Dushmantha                    
(ii)    The Hon. Mayadunna Chinthaka Amal    -   Two Petitions                    
(Petitions stand referred to the Committee on Public Petitions)


Questions under Standing Order 27(2) of the Parliament

(i) The Hon. Sajith Premadasa

Issues regarding Electricity tariff increase

Hon. Minister of Power and Energy replied to the above Question.

(ii) The Hon. (Ven.) Athuraliye Rathana Thero

Law college language issue

Hon. Minister of Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms replied to the above Question.


Privilege

The Privilege motion that the question of privilege arising out of the matter raised by the Hon. Premnath C. Dolawatte, Attorney at Law, M.P. on 07th March, 2023 in Parliament to the effect that his privileges have been infringed, moved by the Hon. Leader of the House of Parliament, was referred to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges in terms of the provisions of Standing Order 118 of the Parliament.


Main Business of the House for Today

The following Items (appearing as Item Nos. 1 to 34 of today’s Order Paper) were approved by the House and Item No. 34 referred to the Legislative Standing Committee:-

(i)    Resolution under the Essential Public Services Act
(ii)    Notification under the Excise Ordinance
(iii)    Six Regulations under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act
(iv)    Regulations under the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act
(v)    Annual Report and Accounts of the University of Kelaniya (2020)
(vi)    Annual Report and Accounts of the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation (2019)
(vii)    Annual Report & Accounts of the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation (2018)
(viii)    Annual Report of the National Transport  Medical Institute (2018)
(ix)    Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Judge’s Institute (2018)
(x)    Annual Report of the Superior Courts Complex Board of Management (2021)
(xi)    Annual Report of the Lanka Sugar Company (Private) Limited (2013)
(xii)    Annual Report of the Lanka Sugar Company (Private) Limited (2014)
(xiii)    Annual Report of the Palmyrah Development Board (2013)
(xiv)    Annual Report of the Palmyrah Development Board (2014)
(xv)    Annual Report of the Palmyrah Development Board (2015)
(xvi)    Annual Report of the Thurusaviya Fund (2015)
(xvii)    Annual Report of the Thurusaviya Fund (2019)
(xviii)    Annual Report of the Thurusaviya Fund (2020)
(xix)    Annual Report of the National Institute of Plantation Management (2017)
(xx)    Annual Report of the National Institute of Plantation Management (2019)
(xxi)    Annual Report and Accounts of the Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation (2017)
(xxii)    Annual Report of the Coconut Research Institute (2019)
(xxiii)    Annual Report of the Kurunegala Plantations Limited (2019)
(xxiv)    Annual Report of the Tea Small Holdings Development Authority (2019)
(xxv)    Annual Report of the Tea Small Holdings Development Authority (2020)
(xxvi)    Annual Report of the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka (2020)
(xxvii)    Annual Report of the National Sports Fund (2017)  
(xxviii)    Annual Report of the National Sports Fund (2019)
(xxix)    Indira Cancer Trust (Incorporation) Bill - Second Reading


Questions at the Adjournment Time

Two Questions were asked by following Members of Parliament:-
(i)    The Hon. Imthiaz Bakeer Markar
(ii)    The Hon. M. W. D. Sahan Pradeep Withana


The Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1738 Hrs. until 0930 Hrs. on Thursday 9th March 2023.

*  This is an unedited version. For the official record of this day's proceedings, please refer the Hansard.