PARLIAMENT

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


Official Oath or Affirmation by New Members

The Hon. M. G. Weerasena was sworn in as a Member of Parliament before the Hon. Speaker to fill the vacancy caused by reason of the death of the Hon. H. Nandasena.


Announcements by the Speaker

A : Death of the Hon. H. Nandasena, M.P.  
B : Endorsement of the certificate on a Bill under Article 79 of the Constitution
C : Co-opted Members to serve on Legislative Standing Committee for the consideration of the “South Lanka Academy for Tertiary Education and Leadership (Incorporation) Bill”
D : Co-opted Members to serve on Legislative Standing Committee for the consideration of the “Pharmaceutical Society of Sri Lanka (Incorporation) Bill”
E : Co-opted Members to serve on Legislative Standing Committee for the consideration of the “Ruhunu Awakening Organization (Incorporation) Bill”
F : Members to serve in the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Ports, Shipping and Aviation
G : Members to serve in the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Fisheries
H : Members to serve in the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Trade, Commerce and Food Security
I : Members to serve in the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Technology
J : Question of privilege raised by the Hon. Roshan Ranasinghe, M.P.
K : Question of privilege raised by the Hon. Chandima Weerakkody, M.P.
L : Question of privilege raised by the Hon. Mayadunna Chinthaka Amal, M.P.
M : Question of privilege raised by the Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam, M.P.
N : Question of privilege raised by the Hon. Kanchana Wijesekera, M.P.


Presentation of Papers by the Speaker

(i)    
•    Fourth Installment – Parts XXVI and XXVII of the Report of the Auditor–General for the Financial Year 2021;
•    Fourth Installment – Part XXVI of the Report of the Auditor–General for the Financial Year 2022; and
•    First Installment – Part I of the Report of the Auditor–General for the Financial Year 2023  
in terms of Article 154(6) of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

(ii) Environmental Audit Report on Evaluation of Grassland Conservation Process in National Parks of Sri Lanka in the Eighth Installment – Part IV of the Report of the Auditor General 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 Lady Lochore Loan Fund for the year 2022
(ii)    Annual Report of the University of Vocational Technology for the year 2022
(iii)    Annual Report of the Bhiksu University of Sri Lanka for the year 2022
(iv)    Annual Report of the Hotel Developers (Lanka) Limited for the year 2022
(v)    Annual Report of the National Aquaculture Development Authority of Sri Lanka for the year 2021
(vi)    Annual Report of the Hadabima Authority of Sri Lanka for the year 2022
(vii)    Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Regulatory Council for the year 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 Administrative Appeals Tribunal in the report of the Committee on Public Accounts which was presented to Parliament
(ix)    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. 2371/48 of 16th February 2024
(x)    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. 2371/49 of 16th February 2024
(xi)    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. 2371/50 of 16th February 2024
(xii)    The Convention between the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the avoidance of Double Taxation and the prevention of Tax Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income, entered in to on 26th January 2023
(xiii)    Regulations made by the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies under Section 20 of the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, No. 1 of 1969 amended by Acts, No. 48 of 1985 and No. 28 of 1987 read with Sections 4(1) and 14 of the aforesaid Act and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2376/14 of 19th March 2024
(xiv)    Proclamation made and Published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2380/32 of 19th April 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
(xv)    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 Mass Media and the Institutions coming under its purview in the reports of the Committee on Public Accounts which were presented to Parliament
(xvi)    Regulations made by the Minister of Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms under Section 61 read with Section 45 of the Judicature Act, No. 2 of 1978 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2360/22 of 27th November 2023
(xvii)    Regulations made by the Minister of Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms under Section 61 read with Section 45 of the Judicature Act, No. 2 of 1978 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2371/13 of 13th February 2024
(xviii)    Order made by the Minister of Tourism and Lands under Section 26(1) of the Tourism Act, No. 38 of 2005 on the recommendation of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority with regard to the declaration of a Tourist Development Area and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2360/62 of 01st December 2023
(xix)    Order made by the Minister of Tourism and Lands under Section 26(1) of the Tourism Act, No. 38 of 2005 on the recommendation of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority with regard to the declaration of a Tourist Development Area and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2360/63 of 01st December 2023  
(xx)    Regulations made by the Minister of Tourism and Lands under Sections 95 and 96 read with Sections 8 and 22 of the Crown Lands Ordinance (Chapter 454) on 09th April 2024
(xxi)    Regulations made by the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs under Section 34 read with Section 3 of the Convention Against Doping in Sports Act, No. 33 of 2013 with regard to the Prohibited Substances Lists and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2373/14 of 27th February 2024


Presentation of Reports from the Committees

(i)    The Report of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms was presented by the Hon. (Dr.) Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, PC, the Chair of the Committee.
(ii)    The Report of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Just and Law - Abiding Society was presented by the Hon. W. D. J. Seneviratne, Attorney at Law, the Chair of the Committee.


Presentation of Petitions

(i)    The Hon. Rohana Dissanayaka                    
(ii)    The Hon. Shantha Bandara                  -    Two Petitions
(iii)    The Hon. Vijitha Herath                      -    Three Petitions
(iv)    The Hon. Wasantha Yapabandara, Attorney at Law -  Two Petitions
(v)    The Hon. Gamini Waleboda                    
(vi)    The Hon. Samanpriya Herath                    
(Petitions stand referred to the Committee on Public Petitions)


Questions of Privilege

Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka

Derogatory remarks about him in Mawbima news article


Main Business of the House for Today

The following Items (appearing as Item Nos. 1 and 2 of today’s Order Paper) were approved by the House.:-

(i) Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill
(ii)    Regulations under the Poison, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance


Adjournment Motion

Adjournment Motion on “Easter Sunday Attack” was proposed by the Hon. Niroshan Perera.


The Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1730 Hrs. until 0930 Hrs. on Thursday 25th April 2024.

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