PARLIAMENT

The Hon. Ajith Rajapakse, the Deputy Speaker and the Chair of the Committee took the Chair.


Announcements by the Speaker

A : Determination of the Supreme Court on the Bill entitled “Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority”
B : Determination of the Supreme Court on the Bill entitled “Anti-Terrorism”
C : Endorsement of the certificate on Bills under Article 79 of the Constitution


Presentation of Papers

(i)    Annual Reports of the National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka for the years 2018, 2019 and 2020
(ii)    Annual Report of the National Authority for the Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses for the year 2022
(iii)    Annual Reports of the Industrial Technology Institute for the years 2019, 2020 and 2021
(iv)    Annual Report of the Kahatagaha Graphite Lanka limited for the year 2020/2021
(v)    Annual Report of the Employees’ Provident Fund for the year 2021
(vi)    Annual Report of the National Institute of Labour Studies for the year 2022
(vii)    Annual Performance Reports of the National Intellectual Property Office of Sri Lanka for the years 2021 and 2022

(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 Public Service Commission in the report of the Committee on Public Accounts which was presented to Parliament
(ix)    Regulations made by the Minister of Investment Promotion in consultation with the  Colombo Port City Economic Commission and relevant Regulatory Authorities under Section 71 of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act, No. 11 of 2021 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2358/70 of 17th November 2023
(x)    Proclamation made and Published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2371/11 of 13th February 2024 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
(xi)    Proclamation made and Published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2371/16 of 13th February 2024 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
(xii)    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 21.12.2023 to 31.12.2023 under Section 6(1) of the Appropriation Act, No. 43 of 2022
(xiii)    Recommendations submitted to the Hon. President by the Finance Commission in terms of Article 154R (4) of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka for the year 2024
(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 Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms 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 recommendations of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority with regard to the declaration of a tourist development area and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2352/47 of 06th October 2023
(xvi)    Order made by the Minister of Tourism and Lands under Section 26(1) of the Tourism Act, No. 38 of 2005 on the recommendations of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority with regard to the declaration of a tourist development area and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2352/48 of 06th October 2023
(xvii)    Report on the Submission of observations and steps taken in terms of the Standing Order 120(4) of the Parliament with regard to the matters mentioned on Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital Board in the report of the Committee on Public Enterprises which was presented to Parliament
(xviii)    Order made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs under Sections 4 and 5 of the Diplomatic Privileges Act, No. 9 of 1996 regarding the Host Country Agreement between the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF) to give effect to the terms of Articles IV, V, VI, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, XIV, XV and XVI and published in the Gazette Extraordinary    No. 2348/48 of 08th September 2023
(xix)    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  Power and Energy in the report of the Committee on Public Accounts which was presented to Parliament


Presentation of Reports from the Committees

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. Sajith Premadasa

Issues regarding social security schemes


Questions of Privilege

Hon. Kanchana Wijesekera

Ranjan Jayalal’s false statement regarding electricity bill


Presentation of Bills

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

“Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO”

to provide for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.


Main Business of the House for Today

The following Items (appearing as Item Nos. 1 to 9 of today’s Order Paper) were moved by the House. Item Nos. 1 to 7 were debated and adjourned for a future date. Item Nos. 8 and 9 were approved.:-

(i) Secured Transactions Bill - Second Reading
(ii)    Trust Receipts (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading
(iii)    Mortgage (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading
(iv)    Finance Leasing (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading
(v)    Inland Trust Receipts (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading
(vi)    Companies (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading
(vii)    Registration of Documents (Amendment) Bill - Second Reading
(viii)    Order under the Strategic Development  Projects Act
(ix)    Regulations under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act


The Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1651 Hrs. until 0930 Hrs. on Wednesday 21st February 2024.

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