PARLIAMENT

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


Announcements by the Speaker

A : Receipt of copies of petitions in respect of the Bill titled “Anti-Terrorism” filed at the Supreme Court     
B : Receipt of copies of petitions in respect of the Bill titled “Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority” filed at the Supreme Court     
C : Approval to establish the “Caucus for the Evolution of Malaiyaga Plantation Community in Sri Lanka”    


Presentation of Papers

(i)    Annual Report of the National Insurance Trust Fund Board for the year 2021
(ii)    Annual Report of the National Council for Elders for the year 2021
(iii)    Annual Report of the Skills Development Fund Limited for the year 2021
(iv)    Annual Report and Accounts of the Postgraduate Institute of English of the Open University of Sri Lanka for the year 2022
(v)    Performance Report of the Department of Forest Conservation for the year 2022
(vi)    Annual Reports of the Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka-Talawakelle for the years 2020 and 2021
(vii)    Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Energies (Pvt) Ltd for the year 2018
(viii)    Annual Report of the Lanka Sathosa Limited for the year 2021
(ix)    Annual Report of the National Institute of Co-operative Development-Polgolla for the year 2022

(ix) Report on the submission of observations and steps taken in terms of the Standing Order 124(6) of the Parliament with regard to the matters mentioned on the Ministry of Technology in the report of the Committee on Ways and Means 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 Prime Minister’s Office in the report of the Committee on Public Accounts which was presented to Parliament
(xii)    Order made by the Minister of Investment Promotion under Section 3(4) of the Strategic Development Projects Act, No. 14 of 2008 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2360/36 of 28th November 2023
(xiii)    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 Office of the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament in the report of the Committee on Public Accounts which was presented to Parliament
(xiv)    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 Sports and Youth Affairs and the Department of Sports Development in the report of the Committee on Public Accounts which was presented to Parliament
(xv)    Order made by the Minister of Tourism and Lands under Section 26(1) of the Tourism Act, No. 38 of 2005 on the recommendation of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority with regard to the declaration of a tourism development area and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2348/38 of 07th September 2023
(xvi)    Gazette Extraordinary No. 2354/22 of 19th October 2023 made by the Minister of Tourism and Lands under Section 53(6) of the Tourism Act, No. 38 of 2005 approving the Order made by the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority under Section 53(1) of the said Act on the recommendation of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2349/02 of 11th September 2023


Presentation of Reports from the Committees

(i)    The Report 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.
(iii)    The two Reports 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. D.B. Herath                    
(ii)    The Hon. Prasanna Ranaweera                    
(iii)    The Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage                    
(iv)    The Hon. Sarathi Dushmantha
(Petitions stand referred to the Committee on Public Petitions)


Presentation of Bills

The Hon. Leader of the House of Parliament moved the Bill entitled

“Social Security Contribution Levy (Amendment)”

to amend the Social Security Contribution Levy Act, No. 25 of 2022.


Main Business of the House for Today

The following Items (appearing as Item Nos. 2 to 10 of today’s Order Paper) were approved by the House. Item No. 1 was debated and adjourned for tomorrow. Item Nos. 8 to 10 were referred to the Legislative Standing Committee.:-

(i) Online Safety Bill - Second Reading
(ii)    Select Committee of Parliament to make recommendations for the Review and Reform of Legal Education in Sri Lanka
(iii)    Heart to Heart Trust Fund (Incorporation) Bill
(iv)    Sri Lanka Baptist Sangamaya (Incorporation) (Amendment) Bill
(v)    Sri Balabhivurdhi Wardana Samithiya (Incorporation) Bill
(vi)    Samadhi Community Development Foundation (Incorporation) Bill
(vii)    Dassana Bauddha Sanvidhanaya (Incorporation) Bill
(viii)    Dedigama Sri Maithri Pragnartha Bouddha Educational Daham Sabhawa (Incorporation) Bill - Second Reading
(ix)    Saweera Foundation (Incorporation) Bill - Second Reading
(x)    Pavithra Wanniarachchi Sahurda Foundation (Incorporation) Bill - Second Reading


The Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1636 Hrs. until 0930 Hrs. on Wednesday 24th January 2024.

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