PARLIAMENT

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


Announcements by the Speaker

A : Members to serve in the Committees
B : Members to serve in the Select Committee of Parliament to make recommendations for the Review and Reform of Legal Education in Sri Lanka
C : Meeting for constitution of a Parliamentary Caucus for the evolution of the Malaiyaga Plantation Community


Presentation of Papers

(i)    Annual Report of the Lady Lochore Loan Fund for the year 2021
(ii)    Annual Report of the Employees’ Trust Fund Board for the year 2022
(iii)    Annual Report of the Bank of Ceylon for the year 2022
(iv)    Annual Report of the National Secretariat for Persons with Disabilities for the year 2022
(v)    Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced Technological Education for the year 2022
(vi)    Annual Report of the Lanka Mineral Sands Limited for the year 2020
(vii)    Annual Reports of the Buddhasasana Fund for the years 2018 and 2019
(viii)    Annual Reports of the Janatha Estates Development Board for the years 2016, 2017 and 2018

(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 Judges of the Superior Courts 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 Ministry of Public Security 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 to the Prime Minister

Four Questions were asked by following Members of Parliament:-
(i)    The Hon. S. M. Marikkar
(ii)    The Hon. Gevindu Cumaratunga
(iii)    The Hon. Mayadunna Chinthaka Amal
(iv)    The Hon. (Mrs.) Manjula Dissanayake


Questions under Standing Order 27(2) of the Parliament

(i)    The Hon. Sajith Premadasa

Salary increase of CBSL employees

(ii) The Hon. (Ven.) Athuraliye Rathana Thero

Renewable energy projects

Hon. Minister of Power and Energy replied to the above Question.


Ministerial Statements

Hon. Ashoka Priyantha, State Minister of Home Affairs replied to the Question raised by the Hon. Sajith Premadasa under the Standing Order 27(2) of the Parliament on 20.02.2024 regarding Issues regarding social security schemes.


Questions of Privilege

Hon. Mayadunna Chinthaka Amal

False article published in Daily Mirror and website regarding him


House agreed to the following Motion moved by the Hon. Leader of the House of Parliament-

Implementation of the recommendations of the Committee on Ethics and Privileges

That this Parliament resolves that the parliamentary service of the Hon. Ali Sabri Raheem should be suspended for a period of one month from today i.e. 6th of March 2024, in terms of the recommendations of the report which was presented to the Parliament on 24th of January 2024 by the Chairman of the Committee on Ethics and Privileges, the Hon. Chamal Rajapaksha, after consideration of the  matter, raised in the Parliament on 25.08.2023  that the privileges of the Parliament and the Members of the Parliament have been violated due to the misconduct of the Hon. Ali Sabri Raheem, the Member of Parliament, which was  referred to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges  in terms of the Standing Order 118  as per the resolution  passed by  the Parliament on  06.09.2023.


Main Business of the House for Today

The following Items (appearing as Item Nos. 1 to 10 of today’s Order Paper) were approved by the House.:-

(i) Secured Transactions Bill - with amendments
(ii)    Trust Receipts (Amendment) Bill
(iii)    Mortgage (Amendment) Bill
(iv)    Finance Leasing (Amendment) Bill
(v)    Inland Trust Receipts (Amendment) Bill
(vi)    Companies (Amendment) Bill
(vii)    Registration of Documents (Amendment) Bill
(viii)    Social Security Contribution Levy (Amendment) Bill - with amendments
(ix)    Value Added (Amendment) Bill - with amendments - Division was taken at the Second Reading (59 in favour; 35 against)
(x)    Resolution under the Essential Public Services Act


Motion at the Adjournment Time

Motion at the Adjournment Time on “Transparency of decentralized fund utilization” was proposed by the Hon. Hesha Withanage.


The Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1752 Hrs. until 0930 Hrs. on Thursday 7th March 2024.

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