PARLIAMENT

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


Presentation of Papers

(i)    Performance Report of the Department of Public Trustee for the year 2020
(ii)    Performance Report of the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious & Cultural Affairs for the year 2020
(iii)    Annual Reports of the National Child Protection Authority for the years 2016 and 2017
(iv)    Annual Report of the University Grants Commission for the year 2019
(v)    Performance Report of the Food Commissioner’s Department for the year 2020
(vi)    Annual Performance Report of the Co-operative Employees Commission for the year 2020
(vii)    Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Institute of Textile and Apparel for the year 2018
(viii)    Annual Performance Report of the Department of Textile Industry for the year 2020
(ix)    Annual Report of the Paddy Marketing Board for the year 2017
(x)    Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy for the year 2019
(xi)    Annual Report of the Lanka Phosphate Ltd for the year 2019/20
(xii)    Annual Report of the Sugarcane Research Institute for the year 2018
(xiii)    Annual Report of the Coconut Development Authority for the year 2019
(xiv)    Annual Report of the Coconut Cultivation Board for the year 2019
(xv)    Annual Reports of the National Youth Services Council for the years 2015 and 2016
(xvi)    Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Anti—Doping Agency for the year 2019
(xvii)    Performance Reports of the Department of Manpower and Employment for the years 2019 and 2020

(xviii) Order made by the Minister of Economic Policies and Plan Implementation under Section 3(4) of the Strategic Development Projects Act, No. 14 of 2008 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2254/2 of 15th November 2021
(xix)    Recommendations to H. E. the President by the Finance Commission in terms of the Article 154 R(4) of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka for the years 2020 and 2022
(xx)    Regulations made by the Minister of Finance under Section 20 of the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, No. 1 of 1969 amended by Acts, No. 48 of 1985 and No. 28 of 1987 read with Sections 4(1) and 14 of the aforesaid Act and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2256/23 of 30th November 2021
(xxi)    Order made by the Minister of Agriculture under Section 2 of the Felling of Trees (Control) Act (Chapter 452) and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2232/33 of 18th June 2021
(xxii)    Regulations made by the Minister of Energy under Section 48 read with Sections 5(3)(b) and 30(3) of the Petroleum Resources Act, No. 21 of 2021 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2249/32 of 15th October 2021
(xxiii)    Regulations made by the Minister of Plantation under Section 9 read with Section 2(4),(6) of the Licensing of Produce Brokers Act, No. 9 of 1979 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2222/44 of 08th April 2021
(xxiv)    Regulations made by the Minister of Plantation under Section 8 of the Rubber Replanting Subsidy Act (Chapter 437) and published in the Gazette Extraordinary   No. 2241/36 of 18th August 2021


Presentation of Bills

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

(i)    Personal Data Protection - to provide for the regulation of processing of Personal Data; to identify and strengthen the rights of Data subjects in relation to the protection of Personal Data; to provide for the designation of the Data Protection Authority; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
(ii)    Fauna and Flora Protection (Amendment) - to amend the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (Chapter 469).
(iii)    Special Goods and Services Tax - to provide for the imposition of a special goods and services tax, in lieu of the sums chargeable on such specified goods and services by way of tax, duty, levy, cess or any other charge imposed by law; to promote self-compliance in the payment of taxes in order to ensure greater efficiency in relation to the collection and administration or such taxes by avoiding the complexities associated with the application and administration of a multiple tax regime on specified goods and services; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
(iv)    Value Added Tax (Amendment) - to amend the Value Added Tax Act, No.14 of 2002.


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

(i) Committee on Parliamentary Business

That notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 115 of the Parliament, the Committee on Parliamentary Business shall consist of the Speaker as the Chair, the Deputy Speaker, the Deputy Chairperson of Committees, the Leader of the House of Parliament, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, the Chief Government Whip, the Chief Opposition Whip and twenty one (21) other Members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection to serve in the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament

(ii) Committee on Public Finance

That notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 121 of the Parliament, the Committee on Public Finance shall consist of twenty one (21) Members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection to serve in the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament


Announcements by the Speaker

Members to serve in the Committee on Parliamentary Business for the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament


Adjournment Motion

Adjourned debate on “Statement of Government Policy by the President” was continued.


Announcements by the Speaker

Adjournment Debate on the Statement of Government Policy


The Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1800 Hrs. until 1000 Hrs. on Friday 21st January 2022.

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