PARLIAMENT

The Hon. Angajan Ramanathan, the Deputy Chairperson of Committees took the Chair.


Announcements by the Speaker

A : Receipt of copies of petitions filed at the Supreme Court  
B : Meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business


Presentation of Papers

(i)    Annual Report and Financial Statement of the Tower Hall Theatre Foundation for the year 2021
(ii)    Annual Report of the National Youth Corps for the year 2021
(iii)    Annual Performance Report of the Irrigation Department for the year 2022

(iv)    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 01.08.2023 to 31.08.2023 under Section 6(1) of the Appropriation Act, No. 43 of 2022


Presentation of Reports from the Committees

The Second Report of the Committee on Public Enterprises for the Fourth Session of the Ninth Parliament was presented by the Hon. (Prof.) Ranjith Bandara, the Chair of the Committee.


Presentation of Petitions

The Hon. Ranjith Siyambalapitiya
(Petition stands referred to the Committee on Public Petitions)


Questions under Standing Order 27(2) of the Parliament

The Hon. Anura Dissanayaka

Phosphate export and other related issues

Hon. State Minister of Primary Industries replied to the above Question.


Ministerial Statements

Hon. Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, State Minister of Finance replied to the Question raised by the Hon. Anura Dissanayaka under the Standing Order 27(2) of the Parliament on 05.10.2023 regarding giving tax concession for electric vehicles assembling.


Questions of Privilege

(i)    Hon. Chandima Weerakkody, Attorney at Law

Defence Secretary and Army Commander threatening him at the Sectoral Oversight Committee in Parliament

(ii)    Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva

Letter from head of multi chemical group of companies Miss. Gayani Jayaratne to Secretary General of Parliament regarding Public Finance Committee


House agreed to the following Motion moved by the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs -

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

That the time period granted to 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, as specified in the Resolutions passed by Parliament on 19th January 2023 and 06th June 2023 be extended up to 18th January 2024 in terms of Standing Order 102 of the Parliament, as the Committee needs further time to report its observations to Parliament.


Privilege

The Privilege motion that the question of privilege arising out of the matter raised by the Hon. (Mrs.) Diana Gamage, M.P. on 05th October, 2023 in Parliament to the effect that his privileges have been infringed, moved by the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs, was referred to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges in terms of the provisions of Standing Order 118 of the Parliament.


Adjournment Motion

Adjournment Motion on “trend of professionals leaving the country due to the economic crisis” was proposed by the Hon. Eran Wickramaratne.


The Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1830 Hrs. until 0930 Hrs. on Tuesday 17th October 2023.

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