PARLIAMENT

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


Announcements by the Speaker

A : Receipt of copies of petitions in respect of the Bill titled “Penal Code (Amendment)” filed at the Supreme Court
B : Question of privilege raised by the Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam, M.P.
C : Question of privilege raised by the Hon. Roshan Ranasinghe, M.P.
D : Question of privilege raised by the Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage, M.P.
E : Question of privilege raised by the Hon. Chandima Weerakkody, M.P.
F : Question of privilege raised by the Hon. (Dr.) Sarath Weerasekera, M.P.
G : Question of privilege raised by the Hon. Jayantha Weerasinghe, PC, M.P.
H : Meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business


Presentation of Papers by the Speaker

A.    Second Installment – Part XLII and Ninth Installment – Parts XXV and XXVI 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

B.    
•    Fourth Installment – Part XXVIII of the Report of the Auditor–General for the Financial Year 2019;
•    Fourth Installment – Part XXVI of the Report of the Auditor–General for the Financial Year 2020;  and
•    First Installment – Parts XL and XLI and Fourth Installment – Parts XXIII, XXIV and XXV 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 Board of Investment of Sri Lanka for the year 2022
(ii)    Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Accounting and Auditing Standards Monitoring Board for the year 2022
(iii)    Annual Report of the National Livestock Development Board for the year 2018
(iv)    Annual Report of the Thurusaviya Fund for the year 2022
(v)    Annual Report of the Industrial Development Board of Ceylon for the year 2021
(vi)    Annual Report of the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol for the year 2022
(vii)    Annual Report  and Accounts of the Lalith Athulathmudali Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship Trust Fund for the year 2022

(viii) Order made by the Minister of Investment Promotion, having considered the recommendations of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission and upon the approval of the Cabinet Ministers under Section 53 of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act, No. 11 of 2021 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2366/13 of 09th January 2024
(ix)    Order made by the Minister of Investment Promotion, having considered the recommendations of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission and upon the approval of the Cabinet Ministers under Section 53 of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act, No. 11 of 2021 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2366/14 of 09th January 2024
(x)    Note on Supplementary Allocations from the Development Activities Programme appearing under Expenditure Head No. 240 of the Department of National Budget for the period from 01.01.2024 to 31.01.2024 under Section 6(1) of the Appropriation Act, No. 34 of 2023
(xi)    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 Human Resource Management Degree awarded by Benedict XVI Catholic International Institute of Higher Education and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2356/31 of 03rd November 2023
(xii)    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 Degree awarded by Business Management School (Private) Limited and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2358/69 of 17th November 2023
(xiii)    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 Education Honours in Teaching English as a Second Language Degree awarded by Benedict XVI Catholic International Institute of Higher Education and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2359/14 of 21st November 2023
(xiv)    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 Science in Maritime Operations and Bachelor of Science Honours in Chemistry Degrees awarded by CINEC Campus (Private) Limited and published in the Gazette Extraordinary              No. 2360/25 of 28th November 2023.
(xv)    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 Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences Degree awarded by CINEC Campus (Private) Limited and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2362/46 of 13th December 2023.
(xvi)    Order made by the Minister of Education under Section 25A of the Universities Act,   No. 16 of 1978 with regard to the Bachelor of Education Honours in Primary Education Degree awarded by The Lyceum Campus (Private) Limited and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2362/47 of 13th December 2023
(xvii)    Reports 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 Irrigation and the Institutions coming under its purview in the reports of the Committee on Public Accounts which were presented to Parliament
(xviii)    Regulations made by the Minister of Health under Section 82 read with Sections 7(g), 10 and 77 and Part VI of the Ayurveda Act, No. 31 of 1961 regarding the Ayurveda Code on 24th January 2024


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.


Presentation of Petitions

(i)    The Hon. D.B. Herath       -     Two Petitions                                  
(ii)    The Hon. Anupa Pasqual                    
(iii)    The Hon. Imthiaz Bakeer Markar                    
(iv)    The Hon. Chandima Weerakkody, Attorney at Law                    
(v)    The Hon. Imran Maharoof                    
(vi)    The Hon. U. K. Sumith Udukumbura                    
(Petitions stand referred to the Committee on Public Petitions)


Questions under Standing Order 27(2) of the Parliament

The Hon. Sajith Premadasa

Period poverty in Sri Lanka

The Hon. Ministers replied to the above Question.


Main Business of the House for Today

Vote of No Confidence against Hon. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, the Speaker (appearing as Item No. 1 of today’s Order Paper)

was debated and adjourned for tomorrow.


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

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