PARLIAMENT

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


Announcements by the Speaker

A : Receipt of a copy of a petition filed at the Supreme Court
B : Meetings of the Committee on Parliamentary Business and Committee of Selection


Presentation of Papers by the Speaker

(i) Eighth Installment – Part IV of the Audit Report of the Auditor-General on Performance of Purchasing Containerized Mobile Diesel Generators in terms of Article 154(6) of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

(ii)    First Report of the Constitutional Council For the period from January to July 2023 in terms of Article 41G (1) of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka


Presentation of Papers

(i)    Annual Report of the National Education Commission for the year 2022

(ii) Proclamation made and Published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2354/08 of 17th October 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
(iii)    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 Information Technology Degree awarded by Horizon College of Business Technology (Private) Limited and Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (Guarantee) Limited (SLIIT) and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2340/41 of 12th July 2023
(iv)    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 Science Honours in Nutrition and Health Degree awarded by National School of Business Management Limited (NSBM), Bachelor of Management Honours in Business Analytics and Bachelor of Management in Business Analytics Degrees awarded by Institute of Chartered Accounts of Sri Lanka (ICASL) and the Bachelor of Science Honours in Biomedical Sciences Degree awarded by Royal Institute of Colombo (Private) Limited and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2341/08 of 17th July 2023
(v)    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 Business Management Honours in Logistics and Supply Chain Management Degree awarded by Saegis Campus (Private) Limited and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2342/16 of 25th July 2023
(vi)    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 Business Management Honours in Accounting and Finance and Bachelor of Education Honours in Early Childhood Education Degrees awarded by Benedict XVI Catholic Institute of Higher Education (Private) Limited and Bachelor of Education Honours in Sports and Physical Education and Bachelor of Business Management Honours in Marketing Degrees awarded by CINEC Campus (Private) Limited and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2343/03 of 31st July 2023
(vii)    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 KAATSU - Highly Advanced Medical Technology Training Centre (Pvt) Limited (KIU) and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2345/35 of 15th August 2023
(viii)    Report on the submission of observations and steps taken in terms of the Standing Order 119(4) of the Parliament with regard to the matters mentioned on the Ministry of Mass Media in the report of the Committee on Public Accounts which was presented to Parliament
(ix)    Report on the submission of observations and steps taken in terms of the Standing Order 119(4) of the Parliament with regard to the matters mentioned on the Department of Government Printing in the report of the Committee on Public Accounts which was presented to Parliament
(x)    Report on the submission of observations and steps taken in terms of the Standing Order 119(4) of the Parliament with regard to the matters mentioned on the Department of Government Information in the report of the Committee on Public Accounts which was presented to Parliament
(xi)    Report on the submission of observations and steps taken in terms of the Standing Order 119(4) of the Parliament with regard to the matters mentioned on the Department of Post in the report of the Committee on Public Accounts which was presented to Parliament


Presentation of Reports from the Committees

(i)    The two Reports of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Economic and Physical Plans was presented by the Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage, the Chair of the Committee.
(ii)    The Report of the Committee on Public Finance was presented by the Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva, the Chair of the Committee.


Questions under Standing Order 27(2) of the Parliament

The Hon. Anura Dissanayaka

Handing over of Mineral Sands deposits to a company

Hon. Minister of Industries replied to the above Question.


Main Business of the House for Today

The following Items (appearing as Item Nos. 1 to 11 of today’s Order Paper) were approved by the House.:-

(i) Regulations under the Customs Ordinance
(ii)    Resolution under the Customs Ordinance
(iii)    Three Orders under the Excise (Special Provisions) Act
(iv)    Two Notifications under the Finance Act
(v)    Two Orders under the Finance Act
(vi)    Two Notifications under the Excise Ordinance


Questions at the Adjournment Time

Two Questions were asked by following Members of Parliament:-
(i)    The Hon. Thushara Indunil Amarasena
(ii)    The Hon. Akila Ellawala


The Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1807 Hrs. until 0930 Hrs. on Friday 20th October 2023.

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