PARLIAMENT

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


Announcements by the Speaker

A : Endorsement of the certificate on Bills under Article 79 of the Constitution
B : Co-opted Members to serve on Legislative Standing Committee for the consideration of the “Dedigama Sri Maithri Pragnartha Bouddha Educational Daham Sabhawa (Incorporation)”
C : Co-opted Members to serve on Legislative Standing Committee for the consideration of the “Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers of Sri Lanka (Incorporation)”
D : Co-opted Members to serve on Legislative Standing Committee for the consideration of the “Pavithra Wanniarachchi Sahurda Foundation (Incorporation)”
E : Co-opted Members to serve on Legislative Standing Committee for the consideration of the “United Christian Fellowship of Sri Lanka (Incorporation)”
F : Co-opted Members to serve on Legislative Standing Committee for the consideration of the “Shaili Edutainment Foundation (Incorporation)”
G : Co-opted Members to serve on Legislative Standing Committee for the consideration of the “White Rose Foundation (Incorporation)”
H : Co-opted Members to serve on Legislative Standing Committee for the consideration of the “International Institute of Theravadha (Incorporation)”


Presentation of Papers by the Speaker

•    Second Installment – Part LV of the Report of the Auditor–General for the Financial Year 2019;
•    Second Installment – Part LV of the Report of the Auditor–General for the Financial Year 2020;
•    Second Installment – Part L of the Report of the Auditor–General for the Financial Year 2021; and
•    Second Installment – Part LXIV and Ninth Installment – Part XXVIII 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 Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission for the year 2022
(ii)    Annual Report of the University of the Visual and Performing Arts for the year 2022
(iii)    Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Transport Board for the year 2022
(iv)    Annual Report of the Tea Shakthi Fund for the year 2015
(v)    Annual Report of the  Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy for the year 2022
(vi)    Annual Report of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority for the year 2022

(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 Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka in the report of the Committee on Public Accounts which was presented to Parliament
(viii)    Notification made by the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies under Section 32(1) of the Excise Ordinance (Chapter 52) as amended from time to time, regarding Business Hours for Liquor Licensed Establishments, and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2361/44 of 08th December 2023
(Excise Notification No. 03/2023)
(ix)    Notification made by the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies under Section 22 of the Excise Ordinance (Chapter 52) as amended from time to time, regarding Excise Duty on Liquor, and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2364/35 of 31st December 2023
(Excise Notification No. 04/2023)
(x)    Order made by the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies under Section 3 of the Excise (Special Provisions) Act, No. 13 of 1989 relating to Excise duty and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2364/36 of 31st December 2023
(xi)    Order made by the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies under Section 3(3) of the Ports and Airports Development Levy Act, No. 18 of 2011 relating to Ports and Airports Development Levy and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2364/37 of 31st December 2023
(xii)    Regulations made by the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies under Section 4 read with Section 3 of the Casino Business (Regulation) Act, No. 17 of 2010 relating to Issuance of Casino Business License and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2366/33 of 12th January 2024
(xiii)    Regulations made by the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies under Section 182(2)(a) of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka Act, No. 19 of 2021 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2366/34 of 12th January 2024
(xiv)    Notification made by the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies under Section 51 read with Section 19 of the Finance Act, No. 35 of 2018 relating to Luxury Tax on Motor Vehicles and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2368/24 of 24th January 2024
(xv)    Order made by the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies under Section 2(1) of the Finance Act, No. 25 of 2003 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2369/27 of 01st February 2024
(xvi)    Order made by the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies under Section 4 read with Section 3 of the Casino Business (Regulation) Act, No. 17 of 2010 relating to Issuance of Casino Business License and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2369/42 of 02nd February 2024
(xvii)    Regulations made by the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies under Section 29 read with Section 7 of the Foreign Exchange Act, No. 12 of 2017 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2371/33 of 15th February 2024
(xviii)    Order made by the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies under Section 2(1) of the Finance Act, No. 25 of 2003 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2374/19 of 06th March 2024
(xix)    Order made by the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies under Section 19A of the Customs Ordinance (Chapter 235), as amended by the Customs (Amendment) Law No. 35 of 1974 and the Customs (Amendment) Act, No. 83 of 1988, relating to Customs Import Duty and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2371/32 of 15th February 2024
(xx)    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 01.02.2024 to 29.02.2024 under Section 6(1) of the Appropriation Act, No. 34 of 2023


Presentation of Reports from the Committees

The Report of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on An Open and Accountable Government was presented by the Hon. Jagath Kumara Sumithraarachchi, the Chair of the Committee.


Presentation of Petitions

(i)    The Hon. Wajira Abeywardana        -    Three Petitions
(ii)    The Hon. Jayarathna Herath           -    Two Petitions
(iii)    The Hon. (Dr.) (Mrs.) Sudarshini Fernandopulle                    
(iv)    The Hon. Udayana Kirindigoda         -     Two Petitions                    
(Petitions stand referred to the Committee on Public Petitions)


Questions under Standing Order 27(2) of the Parliament

The Hon. Sajith Premadasa

Issues regarding Tea industry

The Hon. Minister of Plantation replied to the above Question.


Ministerial Statements

Hon. (Dr.) Bandula Gunawardana, Minister of Transport and Highways and Minister of Mass Media made a Ministerial Statement regarding payment made to contractors by RDA.


Questions of Privilege

Hon. Selvarajah Kajendren

Injustice caused to him by police


Private Members’ Bills

The Hon. (Prof.) Charitha Herath was granted leave to introduce the following Bill, entitled

“Siw Wanak Arana Foundation (Incorporation)”

Main Business of the House for Today

The following Items (appearing as Item Nos. 1 to 4 of today’s Order Paper) were approved by the House.:-

(i) Banking (Amendment) Bill
(ii)    Regulations under the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act
(iii)    Order under the Value Added Tax Act - Division was taken (55 in favour; 19 against)
(iv)    Regulations under Imports and Exports (Control) Act


Motion at the Adjournment Time

Motion at the Adjournment Time on “Support and facilities for Suwa Seriya ambulance service” was proposed by the Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna.


The Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1756 Hrs. until 0930 Hrs. on Wednesday 24th April 2024.

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