PARLIAMENT

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


Announcements by the Speaker

Determination of the Supreme Court on the Bill entitled “Contempt of a Court, Tribunal or Institution”

A : Receipt of a copy of a petition filed at the Supreme Court
B : Endorsement of the certificate on Bills under Article 79 of the Constitution     
C : Member to serve in the Select Committee of Parliament to Investigate Causes for Financial Bankruptcy declared by the Government and to Report to Parliament and Submit its Proposals and Recommendations in this regard
D : Member to serve in 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


Presentation of Papers

(i)    Annual Report of the National Library and Documentation Services Board for the year 2019
(ii)    Annual Report of the Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology of University of Kelaniya for the year 2021
(iii)    Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Judges’ Institute for the year 2021
(iv)    Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Electricity Company (Private) Limited for the year 2021
(v)    Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Regulatory Council for the year 2021

(vi) Order made by the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies under Section 22 of the Foreign Exchange Act, No. 12 of 2017 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2338/40 of 28th June 2023
(vii)    Regulations made by the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National policies under Section 20 of the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, No. 1 of 1969 amended by Acts, No. 48 of 1985 and No. 28 of 1987 read with Sections 4(1) and 14 of the aforesaid Act and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2341/38 of 20th July 2023
(viii)    Orders made by the Minister of Education under Section 27(1)(b) read with Section 25A of the Universities Act, No. 16 of 1978 with regard to the Bachelor of Education Honours in Biological Sciences, Bachelor of Education Honours in English and Bachelor of Education Honours in Physical Sciences Degrees awarded by Colombo International Nautical and Engineering College (Private) Limited (CINEC) and the Bachelor of Laws Honours Degree awarded by National School of Business Management Limited (NSBM)and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2320/16 of 20th February 2023
(ix)    Order made by the Minister of Education under Section 27(1)(b) read with Section 25A of the Universities Act, No. 16 of 1978 with regard to the Bachelor of Education Honours in Primary Education Degree awarded by Benedict XVI Catholic Institute of Higher Education (Private) Limited and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2326/12 of 03rd April 2023
(x)    Orders made by the Minister of Education under Section 27(1)(b) read with Section 25A of the Universities Act, No. 16 of 1978 with regard to the Bachelor of Education Honours in Teaching English as a Second Language Degree awarded by Royal Institute of Colombo (Private) Limited and the Master of Education and Master of Education with course work Degrees awarded by Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (Guarantee) Limited (SLIIT) and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2329/47 of 28th April 2023
(xi)    Regulations made by the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation under Section 117(2)(p) of the Civil Aviation Act, No. 14 of 2010 read with Sections 6, 10, 11, 26, 31 (d), (e),  (f), (g) and (h) of the aforesaid Act and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2326/16 of 03rd April 2023
(xii)    Regulations made by the Minister of Public Security under Section 52 of the Registration of Persons Act of No. 32 of 1968 on 09th August 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 Babtist Sangamaya (Incorporation)(Amendment)” was presented by the Hon. Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs.


Presentation of Reports from the Committees

(i)    The Report of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Tourism and Lands was presented by the Hon. Gayantha Karunatilleka, member of the Committee on behalf of the Chair of the Committee.
(ii)    The Report of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs was presented by the Hon. Vidura Wickramanayaka, the Chair of the Committee.
(iii)    The Report of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development was presented by the Hon. Sanath Nishantha, member of the Committee on behalf of the Chair of the Committee.
(iv)    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.
(v)    The Report of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Energy & Transport was presented by the Hon. Nalaka Bandara Kottegoda, the Chair of the Committee.
(vi)    The Report of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Religious Affairs and Co-Existence was presented by the Hon. Upul Mahendra Rajapaksha, the Chair of the Committee.
(vii)    The Report of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Food Security and Agriculture was presented by the Hon. D. Weerasinghe, the Chair of the Committee.
(viii)    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)    The Hon. Gamini Lokuge                   
(ii)    The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara           -   Two Petitions
(iii)    The Hon. Buddhika Pathirana                    
(iv)    The Hon. Nalaka Bandara Kottegoda
(Petitions stand referred to the Committee on Public Petitions)


Questions under Standing Order 27(2) of the Parliament

(i)    The Hon. Sajith Premadasa

Issues regarding severe drought condition

Hon. State Minister of Water Supply, Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Hon. Minister of Irrigation replied to the above Question respectively.

(ii) The Hon. Anura Dissanayaka

Channel Eye air time given on lease to Lyca Group

Hon. Minister of Mass Media replied to the above Question.


Presentation of Bills

The Hon. Chief Government Whip moved the Bill entitled

“Sri Lanka Ports Authority (Amendment)”

to amend the Sri Lanka Ports Authority Act, No. 51 of 1979.


Main Business of the House for Today

Order under the Tourism Act (appearing as Item No. 2 of today’s Order Paper)

was approved by the House.


Motion at the Adjournment Time

Motion at the Adjournment time on “Problems faced by Registrars of Birth, Death and Marriage” was proposed by the Hon. Sanjeeva Edirimanna.


The Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1730 Hrs. until 0930 Hrs. on Wednesday 23rd August 2023.

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