PARLIAMENT

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


Announcements by the Speaker

A : Ruling regarding Leader of the Opposition in Parliament attending the meetings of the Committees    
B : Joint Special General Meeting


Presentation of Papers

(i)    Annual Report of the Official Languages Commission for the year 2020
(ii)    Performance Report of the Ministry of Defence for the year 2022
(iii)    Performance Report of the Department of Public Enterprises for the year 2022
(iv)    Annual Report of the National Engineering Research and Development Centre of Sri Lanka for the year 2020
(v)    Annual Reports of the Ocean University of Sri Lanka for the years 2020 and 2021
(vi)    Annual Report of the Bhiksu University of Sri Lanka for the year 2021
(vii)    Annual Report of the Rajarata University of Sri Lanka for the year 2021
(viii)    Annual Report of the Vocational Training Authority of Sri Lanka for the year 2021
(ix)    Annual Report of the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies for the year 2021
(x)    Annual Performance Report the Office of the Leader of the Opposition of Parliament for the year 2022
(xi)    Annual Report the Condominium Management Authority for the year 2021
(xii)    Annual Report of the State Timber Corporation for the year 2021
(xiii)    Annual Performance Report of the Department of Agriculture for the year 2022
(xiv)    Annual Reports and Financial Statements of the Land Reform Commission for the years 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020
(xv)    Performance Report of the Land Use Policy Planning Department for the year 2022
(xvi)    Performance Report of the Land Title Settlement Department for the year 2022
(xvii)    Annual Performance Report of the Department of Manpower and Employment for the year 2022
(xviii)    Annual Performance Report of the Co-operative Employees Commission for the year 2022
(xix)    Annual Report of the National Youth Services Council for the year 2020
(xx)    Annual Performance Report of the Department of Sports Development for the year 2022

(xxi) Resolution under Section 10 of the Customs Ordinance (Chapter 235) relating to Import Duties
    (Gazette Extraordinary No. 2325/07 of 28th March 2023)
(xxii)    Note on Supplementary Allocations from the Supplementary Support Services and Contingent Liabilities Project appearing under Expenditure Head No. 240 of the Department of National Budget for the period from 01.05.2023 to 31.05.2023 under Section 6(1) of the Appropriation Act, No. 43 of 2022
(xxiii)    Regulations made by the Minister of Fisheries under Section 61(1) (sg), (sh) and (t) of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act, No. 2 of 1996 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2310/37 of 15th December 2022
(xxiv)    Regulations made by the Minister of Fisheries under Section 61 read with Sections 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act, No. 2 of 1996 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2317/59 of 01st February 2023
(xxv)    Regulations made by the Minister of Fisheries under Section 61(1) (se) of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act, No. 2 of 1996 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2319/19 of 13th February 2023
(xxvi)    Regulations made by the Minister of Fisheries under Section 61 of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act, No. 2 of 1996 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary       No. 2319/20 of 13th February 2023
(xxvii)    Regulations made by the Minister of Fisheries under Section 61(1) (u) of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act, No. 2 of 1996 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2319/21 of 13th February 2023
(xxviii)    Regulations made by the Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs under Section 47(1) read with Section 46 of the Antiquities Ordinance No. 9 of 1940   (Chapter 188) and presented on 25th May 2023


Presentation of Reports from the Committees

(i)    The Report of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Agriculture was presented by the Hon. Mahinda Amaraweera, the Chair of the Committee.
(ii)    The Report of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Industries was presented by the Hon. Prasanna Ranaweera, member of the Committee on behalf of the Chair of the Committee.
(iii)    The First Report of the Committee on Public Accounts for the Fourth Session of the Ninth Parliament was presented by the Hon. Lasantha Alagiyawanna, the Chair of the Committee.
(iv)    The Report of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Energy & Transport was presented by the Hon. Nalaka Bandara Kottegoda, the Chair of the Committee.
(v)    The Report of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Media, Youth, Heritage & New Citizen was presented by the Hon. Lalith Varna Kumara, the Chair of the Committee.


Presentation of Petitions

(i)    Hon. (Mrs.) Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi, Attorney at Law       
(ii)    The Hon. Gamini Lokuge                    
(iii)    The Hon. Chandima Weerakkody, Attorney at Law                    
(iv)    The Hon. Buddhika Pathirana                    
(v)    The Hon. Madhura Withanage, Attorney at Law
(Petitions stand referred to the Committee on Public Petitions)


Questions under Standing Order 27(2) of the Parliament

(i)    The Hon. Sajith Premadasa

Irregularities in National Medicines Regulatory Authority

Hon. Minister of Health replied to the above Question.

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

Power and energy sector issues


Presentation of Bills

(i) The Hon. Minister of Fisheries moved the Bill entitled

“Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Amendment)”

to amend the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act, No. 2 of 1996.

(ii) The Hon. Leader of the House of Parliament moved the Bill entitled

“Ayurveda (Amendment)”

to amend the Ayurveda Act, No. 31 of 1961.


Private Members’ Bills

The Hon. Jayantha Ketagoda was granted leave to introduce the following Bills, entitled

(i)    Pradeshiya Sabha (Amendment)
(ii)    Urban Councils (Amendment)
(iii)    Municipal Councils (Amendment)


Main Business of the House for Today

The following Items (appearing as Item Nos. 1 to 8 of today’s Order Paper) were approved by the House.:-

(i) Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Judges’ Institute for the year (2019)
(ii)    Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Judges’ Institute for the year (2020)
(iii)    Annual Report of the Office on Missing Persons for the year (2020)
(iv)    Annual Report of the Office on Missing Persons for the year (2021)
(v)    Annual Report of the National Authority for the Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses for the year (2021)
(vi)    Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Accreditation Board for Conformity Assessment for the year (2019)
(vii)    Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Accreditation Board for Conformity Assessment for the year (2020)
(viii)    Annual Report of the Sri Lanka State Trading (General) Corporation Ltd for the year (2020/2021)


Adjournment Motion

Adjournment Motion on “Delays in Judicial Proceedings in Courts and reasons involved thereon” was proposed by the Hon. Sagara Kariyawasam, Attorney at Law.


The Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1730 Hrs. until 0930 Hrs. on Thursday 6th July 2023.

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