PARLIAMENT

The Hon. Ajith Rajapakse, the Deputy Speaker and the Chair of the Committee took the Chair.


Announcements by the Speaker

A : Member to serve in the Select Committee of Parliament to study the practical problems and difficulties that have arisen in relation to enhancing the rank in the Ease of Doing Business Index in Sri Lanka and make its proposals and recommendations
B : Meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business


Presentation of Papers

(i)    Annual Reports of the Rakna Arakshaka Lanka Ltd for the years 2017/2018 and 2018/2019
(ii)    Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Accounting and Auditing Standards Monitoring Board for the year 2021
(iii)    Performance Report of the Department of Management Services for the year 2022
(iv)    Performance Report of the Department of Management Audit for the year 2022
(v)    Performance Report of the Department of Information Technology Management for the year 2022
(vi)    Performance Report of the Department of Trade and Investment Policy for the year 2022
(vii)    Performance Report of the Department of Legal Affairs for the year 2022
(viii)    Performance Report of the Comptroller General’s Office for the year 2022
(ix)    Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Inventors Commission for the year 2021
(x)    Annual Performance Report of the Office of the Leader of the House of Parliament for the year 2022
(xi)    Annual Performance Report of the Ministry of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development for the year 2022

(xii) 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 Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka in the report of the Committee on Public Accounts which was presented to Parliament
(xiii)    Regulations made by the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation under Section 117 read with Sections 6, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16 and 31 of the Civil Aviation Act, No. 14 of 2010 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2292/34 of 09th August 2022


Presentation of Reports from the Committees

(i)    The Report of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Environment was presented by the Hon. Naseer Ahamed, the Chair of the Committee.
(ii)    The Report of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Irrigation was presented by the Hon. D.Weerasinghe, member of the Committee on behalf of the Chair of the Committee.
(iii)    The Report of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Food Security and Agriculture was presented by the Hon. D.Weerasinghe, the Chair of the Committee.


Presentation of Petitions

(i)    The Hon. Sisira Jayakody, Attorney at Law     -   Two Petitions
(ii)    The Hon. Piyal Nishantha De Silva                    
(iii)    The Hon. D. B. Herath                    
(Petitions stand referred to the Committee on Public Petitions)


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

(i) Committee on Ethics and Privileges

That notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 118 of the Parliament and the resolution adopted by Parliament on 10th February 2023, the Committee on Ethics and Privileges shall consist of twenty (20) Members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection to serve in the Fourth Session of the Ninth Parliament, as per the decision taken on 24th May 2023, by the Committee of Selection.

(ii) Privileges

The Privilege motion that the question of privilege arising out of the matter raised by the Hon. (Dr.) Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, PC, M.P. on 21st October, 2022 in Parliament to the effect that his privileges have been infringed was referred to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges in terms of the provisions of Standing Order 118 of the Parliament.


Private Members’ Bills

The Hon. Eran Wickramaratne was granted leave to introduce the following Bill, entitled

“Declaration of Assets and Liabilities (Amendment)”

Votes of Condolence

Vote of Condolence on the late Hon. M. Joseph Michael Perera, ex-Member of Parliament and the former Speaker, was taken up and completed.


The Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1257 Hrs. until 0930 Hrs. on Tuesday 06th June 2023.

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