PARLIAMENT

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


Presentation of Papers

(i)    Performance Report of the Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs for the year 2020
(ii)    Annual Report and Accounts of the Sri Lanka Foundation for the year 2019

(iii) The Agreement between the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Government of the Republic of Turkey for the avoidance of Double Taxation and the prevention of Tax Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income, entered in to on 28th January 2022


Presentation of Reports from the Committees

(i)    The Report of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Wildlife & Forest Conservation was presented by the Chair of the Committee, the Hon. C. B. Rathnayake.

(ii) The Report of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Agriculture was presented by the Chair of the Committee, the Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage.


Presentation of Petitions

(i)    The Hon. Namal Rajapaksa              -    Three Petitions
(ii)    The Hon. Anura Dissanayaka            -    Five Petitions
(iii)    The Hon. Vijitha Herath
(iv)    The Hon. Amarakeerthi Athukorala                    
(v)    The Hon. (Mrs.) Kokila Gunawardene                    
(Petitions stand referred to the Committee on Public Petitions)


Questions under Standing Order 27(2) of the Parliament

(i)    The Hon. Sajith Premadasa

Fuel and Power issues in the country

Hon. Udaya Gammanpila, Minister of Energy and Hon. Duminda Dissanayake, State Minister of Solar Power, Wind and Hydro Power Generation Projects Development replied to the above Question.

(ii) The Hon. Anura Dissanayaka

Land acquisition for sugarcane cultivation

Hon. Chamal Rajapaksa, Minister of Irrigation and State Minister of National Security & Disaster Management and State Minister of Home Affairs and Hon. Mahinda Amaraweera, Minister of Environment replied to the above Question.

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

Covid-19 vaccination

Hon. Keheliya Rambukwella, Minister of Health replied to the above Question.


Ministerial Statements

(i) The Hon. (Dr.) Bandula Gunawardana, Minister of Trade made a Ministerial Statement regarding Sathosa eco-friendly bottled water campaign.

(ii) The Hon. Shehan Semasinghe, State Minister of Samurdhi, Household Economy, Micro Finance, Self Employment and Business Development, on behalf of the Minister of Finance replied to the Questions raised by the Hon. Sajith Premadasa under the Standing Order 27(2) of the Parliament on 08.02.2022 regarding Economic situation of the country and the Report of Board of Finance.


Main Business of the House for Today

The following Items (appearing as Item Nos. 1 to 9 of today’s Order Paper) were approved by the House:-
(i)    Resolution under the Essential Public Services Act
(ii)    Five Regulations under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act
(iii)    Order under the Strategic Development Projects Act
(iv)    Fauna and Flora Protection (Amendment) Bill
(v)    Order under the Felling of Trees (Control) Act


Questions at the Adjournment Time

Two Questions were asked by following Members of Parliament:-
(i)    The Hon. Yadamini Gunawardena
(ii)    The Hon. Charles Nirmalanathan


Motion at the Adjournment Time

Motion at the Adjournment Time on “problems faced by Dairy Farmers regarding grass lands, etc.” was proposed by the Hon. H. Nandasena.


The Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1730 Hrs. until 1000 Hrs. on Friday 25th February 2022.

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