PARLIAMENT

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


Announcements by the Speaker

A : Determination of the Supreme Court on the Bill entitled “Central Bank of Sri Lanka”   
B : Ballot Papers used in the secret ballot held on 20.07.2022
C : Co-opted Members to serve on Legislative Standing Committee for the consideration of the Bill entitled “Shaili Edutainment Foundation (Incorporation)”
D : Co-opted Members to serve on Legislative Standing Committee for the consideration of the Bill entitled “Chartered Institute of Transport of Sri Lanka  (Incorporation)(Amendment)”
E : Meeting of the Committee of Selection


Presentation of Papers by the Speaker

First Installment – Part XXIX, and Fifth Installment – Part IX of the Report of the Auditor–General for the Financial Year 2021 in terms of Article 154(6) of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.


Presentation of Papers

(i)    Annual Report of the Vocational Training Authority of Sri Lanka for the year 2020
(ii)    Annual Report of the Postgraduate Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences of the University of Peradeniya for the year 2020
(iii)    Annual Report of the Postgraduate Institute of Management of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura for the year 2020
(iv)    Annual Report of the Institute for Agro-Technology and Rural Sciences of the University of Colombo for the year 2020
(v)    Annual Report of the Ceylon German Technical Training Institute for the year 2020
(vi)    Annual Report of the University of the Visual and Performing Arts for the year 2021
(vii)    Annual Report & Accounts of the Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine for the year 2021
(viii)    Annual Report of the National Institute of Business Management for the year 2021
(ix)    Annual Report of the Open University of Sri Lanka for the year 2021
(x)    Annual Report & Accounts of the Postgraduate Institute of English of the Open University of Sri Lanka for the year 2021
(xi)    Annual Report of the Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture of the University of Peradeniya for the year 2021
(xii)    Annual Report of the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine for the year 2021
(xiii)    Annual Report of the University of Colombo for the year 2021
(xiv)    Annual Report & Accounts of the Postgraduate Institute of Science of the University of Peradeniya for the year 2021
(xv)    Annual Report of the Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka for the year 2021
(xvi)    Annual Report & Accounts of the Postgraduate Institute of Indigenous Medicine of the University of Colombo for the year 2021
(xvii)    Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation for the year 2020
(xviii)    Annual Report of the Wijaya Kumaratunga Memorial Hospital for the year 2021
(xix)    Annual Report of the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation of Sri Lanka for the year 2021
(xx)    Annual Report of the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol for the year 2021
(xxi)    Annual Report of the Hadabima Authority of Sri Lanka for the year 2021
(xxii)    Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Handicrafts Board for the year 2019
(xxiii)    Annual Reports of the Ceylon Ceramics Corporation for the years 2020 and 2021

(xxiv) Order made by the Minister of Investment Promotion under Section 14 of the Sri Lanka Export Development Act, No. 40 of 1979 regarding CESS levy and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2312/76 of 01st January 2023
(xxv)    Note on Supplementary Allocations from the Supplementary Support Services and Contingent Liabilities Project appearing under Expenditure Head No. 240 of the Department of National Budget for the period from 01.02.2023 to 28.02.2023 under Section 6(1) of the Appropriation Act, No. 43 of 2022
(xxvi)    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 Ministry of Plantation and the Rubber Development Department in the report of the Committee on Public Accounts which was presented to Parliament
(xxvii)    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 Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs in the report of the Committee on Public Accounts which was presented to Parliament
(xxviii)    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 Energy Division of the Ministry of Power and Energy in the report of the Committee on Public Accounts which was presented to Parliament


Presentation of Reports from the Committees

(i)    The Report of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils & Local Government was presented by the Hon. Janaka Wakkumbura, member of the Committee on behalf of the Chair of the Committee Hon. Dinesh Gunawardhana.
(ii)    The Report of the Committee on Public Finance was presented by the Hon. Madhura Withanage, Attorney at Law, a member of the Committee.


Presentation of Petitions

(i)    The Hon. Vidura Wikramanayaka                    
(ii)    The Hon. Premalal Jayasekara                    
(iii)    The Hon. Vasudeva Nanayakkara       -   Six Petitions                    
(Petitions stand referred to the Committee on Public Petitions)


Questions under Standing Order 27(2) of the Parliament

The Hon. Sajith Premadasa

Privatization of Sevanagala and Pelwatte sugar industries

Hon. State Minister of Plantation Industries replied to the above Question.


Ministerial Statements

The Hon. Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, State Minister of Finance, on behalf of the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies replied to the Questions raised by the Hon. Sajith Premadasa under the Standing Order 27(2) of the Parliament on 22.03.2023 regarding Cabinet decision to sell Sri Lanka Telecom PLC and Lanka Hospitals PLC.


Questions of Privilege

(i)    Hon. R. M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara

Secretary to the Ministry of Finance not giving money to conduct Local Government election

(ii) Hon. (Mrs.) Muditha Prishanthi

DIG Sabaragamuwa being impolite to her


Presentation of Bills

The Hon. Leader of the House of Parliament moved the Bill entitled

“Betting and Gaming Levy (Amendment)”

to amend the Betting and Gaming Levy Act, No. 40 of 1988.


House agreed to the following Motion moved by the Hon. Leader of the House of Parliament-

Select Committee of Parliament to make suitable recommendations for the expansion of higher education opportunities in Sri Lanka

That the time period granted to the Select Committee of Parliament to make suitable recommendations for the expansion of higher education opportunities in Sri Lanka as specified in the Resolution passed by Parliament on 13th December 2022 be extended up to 21st June 2023 in terms of Standing Order 102 of the Parliament as the Committee needs further time to report its observations to Parliament


Private Members’ Bills

The Hon. Premnath C. Dolawatte, Attorney at Law was granted leave to introduce the following Bill, entitled

“Penal Code (Amendment)”

Main Business of the House for Today

The following Items (appearing as Item Nos. 1 to 3 of today’s Order Paper) were approved by the House.:-
(i)    Order under the Sri Lanka Export Development Act
(ii)    Two Regulations under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act


Questions at the Adjournment Time

Two Questions were asked by following Members of Parliament:-
(i)    The Hon. Waruna Liyanage
(ii)    The Hon. U. K. Sumith Udukumbura


The Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1649 Hrs. until 0930 Hrs. on Tuesday 25th April 2023.

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