PARLIAMENT

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


Announcements by the Speaker

A : Meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business


Presentation of Papers by the Speaker

•    Second Installment – Part XLVII of the Report of the Auditor–General for the Financial Year 2018;
•    Second Installment – Part L of the Report of the Auditor–General for the Financial Year 2019;
•    Second Installment – Part L, Ninth Installment – Part XXXVIII of the Report of the Auditor–General for the Financial Year 2020;
•    Second Installment – Part XVI, Ninth Installment – Part XXXI of the Report of the Auditor–General for the Financial Year 2021; and  
•    Second Installment – Parts V, VI, VII, VIII and IX, Third Installment – Parts II, III and IV and Ninth Instalment – Parts II, III and IV of the Report of the Auditor–General for the Financial Year 2022

in terms of Article 154(6) of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka


Presentation of Papers

(i)    Annual Reports of the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka for the years 2019, 2020 and 2021
(ii)    Annual Report of the Ceylon Fertilizer Company Ltd for the year 2019/2020
(iii)    Performance Report of the Department of Public Trustee for the year 2022

(iv) Order made by the Minister of Investment Promotion under Section 3(4) of the Strategic Development Projects Act, No. 14 of 2008 relating to Welcomehotels Lanka (Private) Limited and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2339/08 of 04th July 2023


Presentation of Reports from the Committees

(i)    The Report of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education was presented by the Hon. (Dr.) V. Radhakrishnan, the Chair of the Committee.
(ii)    The Report of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development was presented by the Hon. Ajith Mannapperuma, the Chair of the Committee.


Presentation of Petitions

The Hon. Tharaka Balasuriya

(Petition stands referred to the Committee on Public Petitions)


Questions under Standing Order 27(2) of the Parliament

The Hon. Anura Dissanayaka

Tender procedure of digital ID card project

Hon. State Minister of Technology 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 made a Ministerial Statement regarding parate execution law (special provision) bill.


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

Select Committee of Parliament to investigate into and to make suitable recommendations relating to the disasters caused by New Diamond and X-press Pearl Vessels in the Maritime Zone of Sri Lanka

That the time period granted to the Select Committee of Parliament to investigate into and to make suitable recommendations relating to the disasters caused by New Diamond and X-press Pearl Vessels in the Maritime Zone of Sri Lanka, as specified in the Resolution passed by Parliament on 12th May 2023, be extended up to 20th February 2024 in terms of Standing Order 102 of the Parliament, as the Committee needs further time to report its observations to Parliament.


Main Business of the House for Today

The following Motions (appearing as Item No. 1 and 2 of today’s Order Paper) were moved by the House and Passed:-

•    Disposal of garbage by Local Authorities

That this Parliament resolves that the required steps be taken by the Government to deploy the workers serving in the Local Authorities in garbage disposal activities whereas a substantial amount of money belonging to the tax payers of the country is passed to certain private companies which have been entrusted with the duty of disposing garbage in most of the Local Government Institutions of the country at present.

•    Conducting a systematic study about King Ravana

That this Parliament resolves that a study should be conducted about King Ravana through a panel of experts due to the fact that a study on King Ravana enables to unveil a hidden period of time in Sri Lankan history, and use the knowledge that King Ravana possessed for the uplifting of the country and enhance the attitudes in the country about him, even though specific historical information about him are not available.


Questions at the Adjournment Time

One Question was asked by following Members of Parliament:-

The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna


The Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1441 Hrs. until 0930 Hrs. on Tuesday 22nd August 2023.

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