PARLIAMENT

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


Announcements by the Speaker

A : Endorsement of the certificate on Bills under Article 79 of the Constitution  
B : Receipt of a copy of a petition filed at the Supreme Court     
C : Appointment of new Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary-General of Parliament
D : Co-opted Members to serve on Legislative Standing Committee for the consideration of the Bill entitled “Samadhi Community Development Foundation (Incorporation)”           
E : Co-opted Members to serve on Legislative Standing Committee for the consideration of the Bill entitled “Sri Balabhivurdhi Wardana Samithiya (Incorporation)”           
F : Awareness Programme for the Members of Parliament on the Investigations carried out by the Sri Lanka Police related to the “Easter Sunday Attacks”


Presentation of Papers by the Speaker

(i)    
•    Ninth Installment – Part I of the Report of the Auditor–General for the Financial Year 2009;
•    Second Installment – Part LI of the Report of the Auditor–General for the Financial Year 2019;
•    Second Installment – Part LI and Ninth Installment – Part XXXIX of the Report of the Auditor–General for the Financial Year 2020;
•    Second Installment – Parts XLI and XLII of the Report of the Auditor–General for the Financial Year 2021; and  
•    Second Installment – Parts X, XI, XII, XIII, XIV, XV and XVI, Third Installment – Parts V, VI, VII and VIII and Ninth Instalment – Parts VI and VII 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.

(ii) Tenth Installment – Part II of the Special Audit Report of the Auditor-General on the International Cricket Council Men’s    T-20 World Cup Cricket Tournament – 2022 in terms of Article 154(6) of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka


Presentation of Papers

(i)    Annual Performance Report of the Sri Lanka Customs for the year 2022
(ii)    Annual Performance Report of the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration (Ombudsman) for the year 2022
(iii)    Annual Performance Report of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption for the year 2022
(iv)    Annual Report of the Shrama Vasana Fund  for the year 2022

(v) Order made by the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies under Sections 2 and 5 of the Special Commodity Levy Act, No. 48 of 2007, relating to Special Commodity Levy and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2332/14 of 17th May 2023
(vi)    Order made by the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies under Sections 2 and 5 of the Special Commodity Levy Act, No. 48 of 2007, relating to Special Commodity Levy and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2332/53 of 20th May 2023
(vii)    Order made by the Acting Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies under Sections 2 and 5 of the Special Commodity Levy Act, No. 48 of 2007, relating to Special Commodity Levy and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2337/16 of 22nd June 2023
(viii)    Order made by the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies under Section 2 of the Special Commodity Levy Act, No. 48 of 2007, relating to Special Commodity Levy and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2340/45 of 13th July 2023
(ix)    Resolution under Section 10 of the Customs Ordinance (Chapter 235) relating to Import Duties
    (Gazette Extraordinary No. 2336/72 of 16th June 2023)
(x)    Resolution under Section 10 of the Customs Ordinance (Chapter 235) relating to Import Duties
    (Gazette Extraordinary No. 2338/54 of 30th June 2023)
(xi)    Resolution under Section 10 of the Customs Ordinance (Chapter 235) relating to Import Duties
    (Gazette Extraordinary No. 2341/64 of 21st July 2023)
(xii)    Regulations made by the Minister of Finance, Economic and Policy Development under Section 107A(1) of the Customs Ordinance (Chapter 235) as amended, relating to Customs Duty and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2329/46 of 28th April 2023
(xiii)    Regulations made by the Minister of Investment Promotion in consultation with the Colombo Port City Economic Commission and relevant Regulatory Authorities under Section 71 read with Sections 27, 36, 37, 39, 40 and 64 of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act, No. 11 of 2021 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2339/31 of 07th July 2023
(xiv)    Proclamation made and Published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2349/19 of 12th September 2023 and Schedule thereto, by virtue of the powers vested with the president in terms of Section 2 of the Essential Public Services Act, No. 61 of 1979


Presentation of Reports from the Committees

(i)    The Report of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Public Security was presented by the Hon. Tiran Alles, the Chair of the Committee.
(ii)    The Report of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Just and Law-Abiding Society was presented by the Hon. W. D. J. Seneviratne, the Chair of the Committee.
(iii)    The Report of the Committee on Public Finance was presented by the Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva, the Chair of the Committee.
(iv)    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.
(v)    The Report of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Foreign Employment and Labour was presented by the Hon. Hector Appuhamy, the Chair of the Committee.
(vi)    The Report 1 of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Food Security and Agriculture was presented by the Hon. D. Weerasinghe, the Chair of the Committee.
(vii)    The Report 2 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. Kumarasiri Rathnayaka                    
(ii)    The Hon. D. Weerasingha                    
(iii)    The Hon. Jagath Samarawickrama
(Petitions stand referred to the Committee on Public Petitions)


Questions under Standing Order 27(2) of the Parliament

The Hon. Sajith Premadasa

Bill to suppress social media


Main Business of the House for Today

The following Items (appearing as Item Nos. 1 and 2 of today’s Order Paper) were approved by the House.:-

(i) Regulations under the Registration of Persons Act
(ii) Regulations under the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act


Questions at the Adjournment Time

Two Questions were asked by following Members of Parliament:-
(i)    The Hon. Wasantha Yapabandara, Attorney at Law
(ii)    The Hon. Nalaka Bandara Kottegoda


The Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1730 Hrs. until 0930 Hrs. on Wednesday 20th September 2023.

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