PARLIAMENT

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


Presentation of Papers by the Speaker

•    Fourth Installment – Part XXV of the Report of the Auditor–General for the Financial Year 2021; and
•    Fourth Installment – Part XXII 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


Presentation of Papers

(i)    Annual Report of the Ceylon Fishery Harbours Corporation for the year 2020
(ii)    Annual Report of the Milco (Pvt) Ltd for the year 2019
(iii)    Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau for the year 2021
(iv)    Annual Performance Report of the Department of Archaeology for the year 2022
(v)    Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Energies (Pvt) Ltd for the year 2017
(vi)    Annual Report of the Sri Lanka State Plantations Corporation for the year 2020

(vii) 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 Chief Government Whip of Parliament in the report of the Committee on Public Accounts which was presented to Parliament
(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 State Ministry of Aviation and Export Zone Development 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 Ministry of Industries 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 State Ministry of Rural and Regional Drinking Water Supply Projects Development 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 Ministry of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development in the report of the Committee on Public Accounts which was presented to Parliament


Questions under Standing Order 27(2) of the Parliament

The Hon. Sajith Premadasa

Restructuring of state institutions


Questions of Privilege

Hon. Anuradha Jayaratne

Tarnishing his image by conduct of Divisional Secretary of the Udapalatha


House agreed to the following Motions moved by the Hon. Chief Government Whip-

(i) 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

That the time period granted to 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, as specified in the Resolution passed by Parliament on 11 August 2023, be extended up to 20 May 2024 in terms of Standing Order 102 of the Parliament, as the Committee needs further time to report its observations to Parliament.

(ii) Ministerial Consultative Committees

Twenty Eight (28) Ministerial Consultative Committees be appointed to be designated as follows:—

1.    Ministerial Consultative Committee on Defence
2.    Ministerial Consultative Committee on Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies
3.    Ministerial Consultative Committee on Technology
4.    Ministerial Consultative Committee on Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment
5.    Ministerial Consultative Committee on Ports, Shipping and Aviation
6.    Ministerial Consultative Committee on Investment Promotion
7.    Ministerial Consultative Committee on Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils & Local Government
8.    Ministerial Consultative Committee on Fisheries
9.    Ministerial Consultative Committee on Education
10.    Ministerial Consultative Committee on Transport and Highways
11.    Ministerial Consultative Committee on Mass Media
12.    Ministerial Consultative Committee on Health
13.    Ministerial Consultative Committee on Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development
14.    Ministerial Consultative Committee on Agriculture and Plantation Industries
15.    Ministerial Consultative Committee on Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation
16.    Ministerial Consultative Committee on Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms
17.    Ministerial Consultative Committee on Tourism and Lands
18.    Ministerial Consultative Committee on Industries
19.    Ministerial Consultative Committee on Urban Development and Housing
20.    Ministerial Consultative Committee on Foreign Affairs
21.    Ministerial Consultative Committee on Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs
22.    Ministerial Consultative Committee on Power and Energy
23.    Ministerial Consultative Committee on Environment
24.    Ministerial Consultative Committee on Sports and Youth Affairs
25.    Ministerial Consultative Committee on Irrigation
26.    Ministerial Consultative Committee on Labour and Foreign Employment
27.    Ministerial Consultative Committee on Public Security
28.    Ministerial Consultative Committee on Trade, Commerce and Food Security
 
Each Ministerial Consultative Committee shall consist of  the Cabinet Minister in charge  of  the  relevant  subject  as  Chair,  State Minister, Deputy Minister and ‍five (5) other Members of Parliament to be nominated by the Committee of Selection  to discuss and report  upon such matters  as are referred to the Committee in terms of the provisions of Standing Order 112 of the Parliament;

The quorum of each Ministerial Consultative Committee shall be three (3) Members.

(iii) Ministerial Consultative Committees

That notwithstanding the provisions of the Standing Order 112(1) of Parliament, as per the decision taken on the 08th of February, 2024 by the Committee of Selection, a Ministerial Consultative Committee be appointed to be designated as Ministerial Consultative Committee on State Plantation Enterprises Reforms.
 
Above Ministerial Consultative Committee shall consists of the Non-Cabinet  Minister in charge of the relevant subject as the Chair, State Minister, Deputy Minister and five (5) other members of Parliament to be nominated by the Committee of Selection to discuss and report upon such matters as are referred to it.

The quorum of above Ministerial Consultative Committee shall be three (3) Members.
 
(iv)    Legislative Standing Committee

That notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 113 of the Parliament, the Legislative Standing Committee shall consist of the Deputy Speaker as the Chair, the Deputy Chairperson of Committees and fifteen (15) other Members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection to serve in the Fifth Session of the Ninth Parliament.

(v) Committee on Parliamentary Business

That notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 115 of the Parliament, the Committee on Parliamentary Business shall consist of the Speaker as the Chair, the Deputy Speaker, the Deputy Chairperson of Committees, the Leader of the House of Parliament, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, the Chief Government Whip, the Chief Opposition Whip and twenty six (26) other Members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection to serve in the Fifth Session of the Ninth Parliament.

(vi) Committee on Standing Orders

That notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 116 of the Parliament, the Committee on Standing Orders shall consist of the Speaker as the Chair, the Deputy Speaker, the Deputy Chairperson of Committees and nine (9) other Members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection to serve in the Fifth Session of the Ninth Parliament.

(vii) House Committee

That notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 117 of the Parliament, the House Committee shall consist of the Speaker as the Chair and fourteen (14) other Members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection to serve in the Fifth Session of the Ninth Parliament.

(viii) Committee on Ethics and Privileges

That notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 118 of the Parliament, the Committee on Ethics and Privileges shall consist of twenty (20) Members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection to serve in the Fifth Session of the Ninth Parliament.

(ix) Committee on Public Accounts

That notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 119 of the Parliament, the Committee on Public Accounts shall consist of thirty one (31) Members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection to serve in the Fifth Session of the Ninth Parliament.

(x) Committee on Public Enterprises

That notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 120 of the Parliament, the Committee on Public Enterprises shall consist of thirty one (31) Members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection to serve in the Fifth Session of the Ninth Parliament.

(xi) Committee on Public Finance

That notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 121 of the Parliament, the Committee on Public Finance shall consist of twenty eight (28) Members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection to serve in the Fifth Session of the Ninth Parliament.

(xii) Committee on Banking and Financial Services

That notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 122 of the Parliament, the Committee on Banking and Financial Services shall consist of seventeen (17) Members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection to serve in the Fifth Session of the Ninth Parliament.

(xiii) Committee on Economic Stabilization

That notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 123 of the Parliament, the Committee on Economic Stabilization shall consist of seventeen (17) Members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection to serve in the Fifth Session of the Ninth Parliament.

(xiv) Committee on Ways and Means

That notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 124 of the Parliament, the Committee on Ways and Means shall consist of seventeen (17) Members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection to serve in the Fifth Session of the Ninth Parliament.

(xv) Committee on Public Petitions

That notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 125 of the Parliament, the Committee on Public Petitions shall consist of twenty three (23) Members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection to serve in the Fifth Session of the Ninth Parliament.

(xvi) Backbencher Committee

That notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 129 of the Parliament, the Backbencher Committee shall consist of the Chief Government Whip, the Chief Opposition Whip, eight (8) Backbenchers from the Government and eight (8) Backbenchers from the Opposition to be nominated by the Committee of Selection to serve in the Fifth Session of the Ninth Parliament.


Private Members’ Bills

The Hon. Akila Ellawala was granted leave to introduce the following Bill, entitled

“Mohan Ellawala Social Development Foundation (Incorporation)”

Main Business of the House for Today

Resolution under the Essential Public Services Act (appearing as Item Nos. 1 to 3 of today’s Order Paper)

was approved by the House.


Adjournment Motion

Adjourned debate on “Statement of Government Policy made by the Honorable President on 07th February 2024 in terms of Articles 32(4) and 33(a) of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka” was continued and concluded.


The Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1730 Hrs. until 0930 Hrs. on Tuesday 20th February 2024.

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