PARLIAMENT

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


Announcements by the Speaker

A : Receipt of copies of petitions in respect of the Bill titled “Gender Equality” filed at the Supreme Court
B : Question of privilege raised by the Hon. Anuradha Jayaratne, M.P.
C : Question of privilege raised by the Hon. Prasanna Ranathunga, M.P.


Presentation of Papers by the Speaker

•    Fourth Installment – Part XXVII of the Report of the Auditor–General for the Financial Year 2022; and
•    First Installment – Part II 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


Presentation of Papers

(i)    Annual Report of the Sugarcane Research Institute for the year 2022
(ii)    Annual Report of the Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka for the year 2022
(iii)    Annual Report of the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute for the year 2022

(iv) Regulations made by the President under Section 27 read with Sections 7(3), 8, 10, 11 and 12 of the Welfare Benefits Act, No. 24 of 2002 and Article 44(3) of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, relating to Welfare Benefits and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2382/02 of 29th April 2024.
(v)    Proclamation made and Published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2385/11 of 21st May 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
(vi)    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 Labour and Foreign Employment and the Institutions coming under its purview in the reports of the Committee on Public Accounts which were presented to Parliament


Presentation of Reports from the Committees

(i)    The Report and the Minutes of the Legislative Standing Committee on “Matara Season Organization (Incorporation) Bill” was presented by the Hon. Ajith Rajapakse, the Deputy Speaker, the Chair of the Committee.
(ii)    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. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake                    
(ii)    The Hon. Chandima Weerakkody, Attorney at Law                    
(iii)    The Hon. Sarathi Dushmantha                    
(iv)    The Hon. Mayadunna Chinthaka Amal                    
(v)    The Hon. D. Weerasingha                    
(Petitions stand referred to the Committee on Public Petitions)


Questions under Standing Order 27(2) of the Parliament

(i)    The Hon. Sajith Premadasa

Service issues of Public Management Officials

(ii) The Hon. Anura Dissanayaka

Service issues of Grama Niladhari

Hon. State Minister of Home Affairs replied to the above Question.

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

Sale of Government institutions


Presentation of Bills

The Hon. Chief Government Whip moved the following Bills entitled-

(i)    Public Financial Management - to make provisions to Strengthen Accountability, Oversight, Management and control of public funds in the Public Financial Management framework with the view to improving Fiscal Policy for better macroeconomic management; to clarify institutional responsibilities related to financial management; to strengthen budgetary management, to facilitate public scrutiny of fiscal policy and performance; to repeal the sections 8 and 14 of part II of the Finance Act, No. 38 of 1971; to repeal the Fiscal Management (Responsibility) Act, No. 3 of 2003 and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

(ii)    Economic Transformation - to provide for the National Policy on Economic Transformation and for the establishment of the Economic Commission of Sri Lanka, Investment Zones Sri Lanka, Office for International Trade, National Productivity Commission, and Sri Lanka Institute of Economics and International Trade; for the repeal of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka Law, No. 4 of 1978 and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.


Private Members’ Bills

The Hon. (Dr.) (Mrs.) Sudarshini Fernandopulle was granted leave to introduce the following Bills, entitled

(i)    Twenty Second Amendment to the Constitution
(ii)    Parliamentary Elections (Amendment)


Adjournment Motion

Adjournment Motion on “Break down of rule of law in the country” was proposed by the Hon. Lakshman Kiriella, Attorney at Law.


The Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1625 Hrs. until 0930 Hrs. on Tuesday 4th June 2024.

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