PARLIAMENT

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


Official Oath or Affirmation by New Members

The Hon. Jayantha Ketagoda was sworn in as a Member of Parliament before the Hon. Speaker to fill the vacancy caused by reason of the resignation of the Hon. Ajith Nivard Cabraal.


Announcements by the Speaker

A : Endorsement of the certificate on a Bill under Article 79 of the Constitution
B : Letter of Resignation from the Hon. Ajith Nivard Cabraal, MP


Presentation of Papers

(i)    Annual Performance Report of the Sri Lanka Air Force for the year 2020.
(ii)    Performance Report of the Department of Imigration & Emigration for the year 2020
(iii)    Annual Performance Report of the Ministry of Trade for the year 2020
(iv)    Annual Report of the National Enterprise Development Authority for the year 2015
(v)    Annual Performance Report of the Ministry of Energy for the year 2020
(vi)    Annual Performance Report of the State Ministry of Coconut, Kithul and Palmyrah Cultivation Promotion and Related Industrial Product Manufacturing and Export Diversification for the year 2020

(vii) Order made by the Minister of Labour under Section 46, read with Section 8 of the Employees Provident Fund Act No. 15 of 1958
(viii)    Report on the Submission of observations and steps taken in terms of the Standing Order 120(4) of the Parliament with regard to the matters mentioned on Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship Trust Fund of the Ministry of Trade in the report of the Committee on Public Enterprises which was presented to Parliament
(ix)    Regulations made by the Minister of Justice under Section 840, read with Section 214 of the Civil Procedure Code (Chapter 101) and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2234/67 of 02nd July 2021


Presentation of Reports from the Committees

(i)    The Report of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Education was presented by the Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena, the Chair of the Committee.
(ii)    The Report of the Committee on Public Finance was presented by the Hon. Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, the Chair of the Committee.


Presentation of Petitions

(i)    The Hon. Gamini Lokuge                    
(ii)    The Hon. Gayantha Karunatilleka                    
(iii)    The Hon. Sudath Manjula                   
                   
(Petitions stand referred to the Committee on Public Petitions)


Questions under Standing Order 27(2) of the Parliament

The Hon. Sajith Premadasa

Deletion of data at National Medicines Regulatory Authority

Hon. (Prof.) Channa Jayasumana, State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals replied to the above Question.


Presentation of Bills

The Hon. Leader of the House of Parliament moved the following Bills entitled,

(i)    Employees’ Provident Fund (Amendment) - to amend the Employees’ Provident Fund Act, No. 15 of 1958.
(ii)    Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) - to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure Act, No. 15 of 1979.


Ministerial Consultative Committees

That in terms of the provisions of Standing Order 112 (1) of Parliament and the decision taken on 17th September, 2021 by the Committee of Selection, Ministerial Consultative Committee on Development Co-ordination and Monitoring be appointed to be designated, in addition to the thirty-one (31) Ministerial Consultative Committees approved by the Parliament on 08th September 2020, 07th January 2021 and 06th August 2021.

Above Ministerial Consultative Committee shall consists of the Cabinet Minister in charge of the relevant subject as the Chair, State Minister, Deputy Minister and five (5) other members of Parliament to be nominated by the Committee of Selection to discuss and report upon such matters as are referred to it.

The quorum of above Ministerial Consultative Committee shall be three (3) Members.


Main Business of the House for Today

The following Items (appearing as Item Nos. 1 to 18 of today’s Order Paper) were approved by the House:-

(i) Notification under the Excise Ordinance
(ii)    Five Orders  under the Ports and Airports Development Levy Act
(iii)    Six Orders under the Special Commodity Levy Act
(iv)    Three Regulations under the Foreign Exchange Act
(v)    Order under the Foreign Exchange Act
(vi)    Regulations under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act
(vii)    Select Committee of Parliament to identify appropriate reforms of the election laws and the electoral system and to recommend necessary amendments


Questions at the Adjournment Time

Two Questions were asked by following Members of Parliament:-
(i)    The Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha
(ii)    The Hon. (Mrs.) Muditha Prishanthi


Motion at the Adjournment Time

Motion at the Adjournment Time on “Success of Covid-19 vaccination programme” was proposed by the Hon. Gayashan Nawananda.


The Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1730 Hrs. until 1000 Hrs. on Wednesday 22nd September 2021.

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