PARLIAMENT

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


Announcements by the Speaker

A : Question of privilege raised by the Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka, MP
B : Joint Annual General Meeting


Presentation of Papers by the Speaker

•    Fourth Installment – Part XVII of the Report of the Auditor–General for the Financial Year 2017;
•    Fourth Installment – Part XVII of the Report of the Auditor–General for the Financial Year 2018;
•    Fourth Installment – Part XVII of the Report of the Auditor–General for the Financial Year 2019; and
•    First Installment – Parts VII, VIII, IX and X and Fourth Instalment – Parts IV, V and VI of the Report of the Auditor–General for the Financial Year 2020
in terms of Article 154(6) of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.


Presentation of Papers

(i)    Annual Performance Report of the Department of Meteorology for the year 2019
(ii)    Annual Report of the Rajarata University of Sri Lanka for the year 2019
(iii)    Annual Report of the National Centre for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences for the year 2019
(iv)    Annual Report & Accounts of the Postgraduate Institute of English (The Open University of Sri Lanka) for the year 2019
(v)    Annual Report of the Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology (University of Kelaniya) for the year 2019
(vi)    Annual Report of the University of Colombo Institute for Agro-Technology and Rural Sciences for the year 2019
(vii)    Annual Report & Accounts of the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka for the year 2019
(viii)    Annual Report of the Consumer Affairs Authority for the year 2019
(ix)    Annual Report of the National Institute of Co-operative Development - (Polgolla) for the year 2020
(x)    Annual Report of the State Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Corporation of Sri Lanka for the year 2018
(xi)    Annual Report & Accounts of the Sri Lanka Foundation for the year 2018
(xii)    Annual Report of the Colombo Commercial Fertilizers Ltd for the year 2018/2019
(xiii)    Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Tea Board for the year 2019

(xiv) Public Investment Programme of the Department of National Planning for the year 2021-2024
(xv)    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 Parliament of Sri Lanka in the report of the Committee on Public Accounts which was presented to Parliament
(xvi)    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 Foreign Ministry in the report of the Committee on Public Accounts which was presented to Parliament


Presentation of Reports from the Committees

The Report of the Committee on Public Finance was presented by the Chair of the Committee, the Hon. Anura Priyadarshana Yapa.


Presentation of Petitions

(i)    The Hon. Prasanna Ranatunga               -     Two Petitions
(ii)    The Hon. Piyal Nishantha De Silva          -     Two Petitions
(iii)    The Hon. Tissa Attanayake                    
(iv)    The Hon. Rohana Dissanayaka                    
(v)    The Hon. Ashok Abeysinghe                   -     Two Petitions
(vi)    The Hon. Imran Maharoof                    
(vii)    The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna                    
(Petitions stand referred to the Committee on Public Petitions)


Questions under Standing Order 27(2) of the Parliament

The Hon. Sajith Premadasa

Developing Hikkaduwa area as a tourist zone

Hon. Prasanna Ranatunga, Minister of Tourism replied to the above Question.


Presentation of Bills

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

“Provincial Councils (Transfer of Stamp Duty) (Amendment)”

to amend the Provincial Councils (Transfer of Stamp Duty) Act, No.13 of 2011.


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

Select Committee of Parliament to identify appropriate reforms of the election laws and the electoral system and to recommend necessary amendments

That the time period granted to the Select Committee of Parliament to identify appropriate reforms of the election laws and the electoral system and to recommend necessary amendments as specified in the Resolution passed by Parliament on 05 April 2021 be extended up to 31 March 2022 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. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna was granted leave to introduce the following Bill, entitled

“Centre for Skills Development Studies (Incorporation)”

Main Business of the House for Today

(i)    Appropriation (2022) Bill - Committee

Appropriation (2022) Bill – Twenty Third Allotted Day - Committee Stage Debate

The Appropriation (2022) Bill (Budget) was passed with amendments by the House, with a majority of 93 votes (157 in favour; 64 against).

The following Items (appearing as Item Nos. 2 to 17 of today’s Order Paper) were approved by the House.:-
(ii)    Two Notifications under the Excise Ordinance
(iii)    Order under the Excise (Special Provisions) Act
(iv)    Order under the Ports and Airports Development Levy Act
(v)    Two Regulations under the Imports and  Exports (Control) Act
(vi)    Seven Orders under the Special Commodity  Levy Act
(vii)    Notification under the Excise Ordinance
(viii)    Order under the Excise (Special Provisions) Act
(ix)    Resolution under the Foreign Exchange Act


The Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1830 Hrs. until 1000 Hrs. on Tuesday 11th January 2022.


[Budget 2022]

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