PARLIAMENT

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


Announcements by the Speaker

A : Ruling regarding Hon. Harin Fernando’s Privilege
B : Endorsement of the certificate on Bills under Article 79 of the Constitution  
C : Meeting for constitution of a Parliamentary Caucus for functioning towards safeguarding National Heritages for the Ninth Parliament 


Special Statement by the Honourable President

Honourable President made a Special Statement regarding the thirteenth amendment to the constitution and provincial council system.


Presentation of Papers

(i)    Annual Report of the State Engineering Corporation of Sri Lanka for the year 2018
(ii)    Annual Report of the HDFC Bank of Sri Lanka for the year 2021
(iii)    Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board for the year 2021
(iv)    Performance Report of the Department of Civil Security for the year 2022
(v)    Annual Performance Report of the Sri Lanka Air Force for the year 2022
(vi)    Performance Report of the Judges of the Superior Court –Head 04 for the year 2022
(vii)    Annual Report of the University of Ruhuna for the year 2021
(viii)    Annual Report and Accounts of the Wayamba University of Sri Lanka for the year 2021
(ix)    Annual Report of the University of Colombo School of Computing for the year 2021
(x)    Annual Report and Accounts of the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation for the year 2020
(xi)    Annual Report of the Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited for the year 2022
(xii)    Annual Performance Reports of the Department of Government Information for the years 2019, 2020 and 2021
(xiii)    Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation for the year 2020
(xiv)    Annual Performance Report of the Land Commissioner General’s Department for the year 2022
(xv)    Performance Report of the Sri Lanka Survey Department for the year 2022
(xvi)    Performance Report of the Department of Buddhist Affairs for the year 2022
(xvii)    Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority for the year 2020
(xviii)    Annual Report of the Engineering Council—Sri Lanka for the year 2020
(xix)    Annual Report of the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau for the year 2020
(xx)    Annual Report of the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka for the year 2021


Presentation of Reports from the Committees

(i)    The Report of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Fisheries was presented by the Hon. Douglas Devananda, the Chair of the Committee.
(ii)    The Report of the Committee on Public Finance was presented by the Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka, member of the Committee on behalf of the Chair of the Committee.
(iii)    The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Energy & Transport was presented by the Hon. Nalaka Bandara Kottegoda, the Chair of the Committee.


Presentation of Petitions

(i)    The Hon. Piyal Nishantha De Silva                    
(ii)    The Hon. Milan Jayathilake                    
(iii)    The Hon. Kins Nelson                    
(iv)    The Hon. Wasantha Yapabandara, Attorney at Law                    
(v)    The Hon. Yadamini Gunawardena
(Petitions stand referred to the Committee on Public Petitions)


Questions under Standing Order 27(2) of the Parliament

(i)    The Hon. Sajith Premadasa

Issues in fishing industry

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

Issues faced by agricultural sector

Hon. State Minister of Agriculture replied to the above Question.


Ministerial Statements

Hon. Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, State Minister of Finance, on behalf of the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies replied to the Question raised by the Hon. Sajith Premadasa under the Standing Order 27(2) of the Parliament on 08.08.2023 regarding Payment scheme of ‘Aswesuma’ welfare benefit.


Privilege

The Privilege motion that the question of privilege arising out of the matter raised by the Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka, M.P. on 20th July, 2023 in Parliament to the effect that his privileges have been infringed, moved by the Hon. Chief Opposition Whip, 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

Following Items (appearing as Item Nos. 1 to 8 of today’s Order Paper) were approved by the House:-
(i)    Betting and Gaming Levy (Amendment) Bill - with amendments
(ii)    Appropriation (Amendment) Bill
(iii)    Five Regulations under the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act
(iv)    Sri Lanka Institute of Taxation (Incorporation) (Amendment) Bill


Motion at the Adjournment Time

Motion at the Adjournment time on “Problems in poultry farming and beedi industry” was proposed by the Hon. Kabir Hashim.


The Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1719 Hrs. until 0930 Hrs. on Thursday 10th August 2023.

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