PARLIAMENT

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


Announcements by the Speaker

A : Co-opted Members to serve on Legislative Standing Committee for the consideration of the Bill entitled “Institution of Building Services Engineering & Technology of Sri Lanka (Incorporation)”
B : Co-opted Members to serve on Legislative Standing Committee for the consideration of the Bill entitled “Rathanathissa Peace  Foundation (Incorporation)”
C : Resignation from the Chairmanship of the Committee on Public Finance
D : Members to serve in the Committee on Public Accounts
E : Members to serve in the Committee on Economic Stabilization


Presentation of Papers

(i)    Annual Performance Report of the Department of Examinations, Sri Lanka for the year 2021
(ii)    Annual Reports of the Buddhasasana Fund for the years 2016 and 2017

(iii) Regulations made by the President under Section 24 read with Section 8(2) of the Electronic Transactions Act, No. 19 of 2006 and Article 44(3) of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2308/08 of 29th November 2022
(iv)    Regulations made by the President under Section 27 read with Sections 7(3), 8, 10, 11 and 12 of the Welfare Benefits Act, No. 24 of 2002 and Article 44(3) of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2310/30 of 15th December 2022
(v)    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 District Secretariats – Jaffna, Trincomalee, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya, Nuwara Eliya, Anuradhapura,  Kalutara, Kilinochchi, Ratnapura, Ampara, Hambantota, Monaragala, Matale and  Kurunegala in the reports of the Committee on Public Accounts which were presented to Parliament
(vi)    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 Judges of the Superior Court – Head 04  in the report of the Committee on Public Accounts which was presented to Parliament
(vii)    Proclamation made and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2321/07 of 27th February 2023 and Schedule thereto, by virtue of the powers vested with the President in terms of Section 2 of the Essential Public Services Act, No. 61 of 1979
(viii)    Order made by the Minister of Education under Section 25A read with Section 27(1)(b) of the Universities Act, No. 16 of 1978 with regard to the Bachelor of Management Honours in Business Analytics Degree awarded by KAATSU - Highly Advanced Medical Technology Training Centre (Pvt) Limited (KIU), the Bachelor of Science Honours in Engineering in Civil Engineering and the Bachelor of Science Honours in Engineering in Mechatronics Engineering Degrees awarded by SLT Campus (Pvt) Limited, and the Bachelor of Arts Honours in Anthropology and the Bachelor of Arts Honours in Applied Communication and Media Technology Degrees awarded by Nagananda International Institute of Buddhist Studies (Pvt) Limited and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2308/29 of 01st December 2022
(ix)    Order made by the Minister of Education under Section 25A of the Universities Act,    No. 16 of 1978 with regard to the Bachelor of Science Honours in Information Technology Degree awarded by Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (Guarantee) Limited (SLIIT) and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2310/12 of 13th December 2022
(x)    Regulations made by the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation under Section 117(2)(q) read with Sections 6(3)(a) and 31 of the Civil Aviation Act, No. 14 of 2010 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2303/18 of 26th October 2022.
(xi)    Regulations made by the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation under Sections 117(2)and 117(3) of the Civil Aviation Act, No. 14 of 2010 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2304/46 of 02nd November 2022
(xii)    Regulations made by the Minister of Power and Energy under Section 48 of the Petroleum Resources Act, No. 21 of 2021 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2313/47 of 05th January 2023


Presentation of Reports under Standing Order No. 52(6) of the Parliament

The Report under Standing Order 52(6) of the Parliament on the Bill entitled “Sri Lanka Institute of Taxation (Incorporation)(Amendment)”

was presented by the Hon. Leader of the House of Parliament.


Presentation of Reports from the Committees

(i)    The Report of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Transport and Highways was presented by the Hon. (Dr.) Bandula Gunawardana, the Chair of the Committee.
(ii)    The Report of the Committee on Public Finance was presented by the Hon. Wajira Abeywardana, a member of the Committee.


Presentation of Petitions

(i)    The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna   -  Three Petitions
(ii)    The Hon. Premnath C. Dolawatte, Attorney at Law                    
(Petitions stand referred to the Committee on Public Petitions)


Special Statement by the Honourable President

Honourable President made a Special Statement regarding the IMF discussion and economic practice in the country.


Questions under Standing Order 27(2) of the Parliament

The Hon. Sajith Premadasa

Conducting of Local Government Election

Hon. State Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government and Hon. Prime Minister and Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government replied to the above Question.


Presentation of Bills

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

“Central Bank of Sri Lanka”

to provide for the establishment of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka; for the repeal of the Monetary Law Act (Chapter 422); and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.


Privilege

The Privilege motion that the question of privilege arising out of the matter raised by the Hon. Shantha Bandara, M.P. on 23rd February, 2023 in Parliament to the effect that his privileges have been infringed, moved by the Hon. Leader of the House of Parliament, was referred to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges in terms of the provisions of Standing Order 118 of the Parliament.


Main Business of the House for Today

Three Regulations under the Motor Traffic Act (appearing as Item Nos. 1 to 3 of today’s Order Paper)

were approved by the House.


Motion at the Adjournment Time

Motion at the Adjournment Time on “Regulatory measures for social media” was proposed by the Hon. Madhura Withanage, Attorney at Law.


The Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1730 Hrs. until 0930 Hrs. on Wednesday 8th March 2023.

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