PARLIAMENT

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


Messages from the President

A : Order under the Public Security Ordinance (Chapter 40)


Announcements by the Speaker

B : Meeting for constitution of a Caucus of Medical Parliamentarians Sri Lanka for the Ninth Parliament


Presentation of Papers

(i)    Annual Reports of the Land Survey Council for the years 2020, 2021 and 2022
(ii)    Annual Report of the Urban Settlement Development Authority for the year 2022

(iii)    Order made by the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies under Section 2 of the Special Commodity Levy Act, No. 48 of 2007, relating to Special Commodity Levy and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2360/52 of 30th November 2023
(iv)    Order made by the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies under Section 5 of the Special Commodity Levy Act, No. 48 of 2007, relating to Special Commodity Levy and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2365/04 of 02nd January 2024
(v)    Order made by the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies under Section 2 of the Special Commodity Levy Act, No. 48 of 2007, relating to Special Commodity Levy and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2365/84 of 07th January 2024
(vi)    Order made by the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies under Section 2 of the Special Commodity Levy Act, No. 48 of 2007, relating to Special Commodity Levy and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2372/06 of 19th February 2024
(vii)    Order made by the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies under Section 5 of the Special Commodity Levy Act, No. 48 of 2007, relating to Special Commodity Levy and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2373/42 of 01st March 2024
(viii)    Order made by the Minister of Investment Promotion under Section 14 of the Sri Lanka Export Development Act, No. 40 of 1979, relating to CESS Levy and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2365/50 of 04th January 2024
(ix)    Resolution under Section 10 of the Customs Ordinance (Chapter 235) relating to Import Duties
    (Gazette Extraordinary No. 2365/51 of 04th January 2024)


Presentation of Reports from the Committees

(i)    The Report of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Public Security was presented by the Hon. Akila Ellawala, member of the Committee on behalf of the Chair of the Committee.
(ii)    The Report of the Committee on Public Finance was presented by the Hon. Madhura Withanage, Attorney at Law, member of the Committee on behalf of the Chair of the Committee.


Presentation of Petitions

(i)    The Hon. Ranjith Siyambalapitiya        -     Six Petitions
(ii)    The Hon. Vijitha Berugoda                    
(iii)    The Hon. Siripala Gamalath                    
(iv)    The Hon. Vasudeva Nanayakkara                    
(v)    The Hon. (Mrs.) Manjula Dissanayake                    
 (Petitions stand referred to the Committee on Public Petitions)


Questions under Standing Order 27(2) of the Parliament

(i)    The Hon. Sajith Premadasa

Education sector issues

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

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

Deaths of a PHI and a Medical Officer who commented on food safety


Motions for Leave of Absence

Leave of Parliament was granted to the Hon. Rajavarothiam Sampanthan, Member of Parliament for Trincomalee Electoral District to be absent from sittings of Parliament with effect from 25.04.2024, moved by the Hon. Chief Opposition Whip.


Questions of Privilege

Hon. Velu Kumar

Threats on him by a group of people


Presentation of Bills

The Hon. Minister of Power and Energy moved the Bill entitled

“Sri Lanka Electricity”

to provide for the implementation of reforms to the electricity industry; to provide for the establishment of the National Electricity Advisory Council; to provide for the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka, established under the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka Act, No. 35 of 2002 to be the regulator for the electricity industry in terms of this Act; to provide legislative measures applicable to the incorporation of corporate entities under the Companies Act, No. 07 of 2007 in whom all activities connected to the generation, transmission, distribution, trade, supply and procurement of electricity shall vest; to specify the processes to be applicable to all related activities; to repeal the Ceylon Electricity Board Act, No. 17 of 1969 and the Sri Lanka Electricity Act, No. 20 of 2009 and to provide for all matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.


Private Members’ Bills

(i)    The Hon. A. H. M. Fowzie was granted leave to introduce the following Bill, entitled

“Al Falah Foundation (Incorporation)”

(ii)    The Hon. (Dr.) Nalaka Godahewa was granted leave to introduce the following Bill, entitled

“Sri Lanka Association for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Incorporation)”

Main Business of the House for Today

The following Items (appearing as Item Nos. 1 to 4 and 6 of today’s Order Paper) were approved by the House.:-

(i) Two Regulations under the Motor Traffic Act
(ii)    Notification under Excise Ordinance
(iii)    Order under Excise (Special Provisions)
(iv)    Resolution under the Essential Public Services Act


Adjournment Motion

Adjourned debate on “Easter Sunday Attack” was continued and adjourned for tomorrow.


The Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1716 Hrs. until 0930 Hrs. on Friday 26th April 2024.

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