PARLIAMENT

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


Messages from the President

A : Order under the Public Security Ordinance (Chapter 40)
B : The Navy Act (Chapter 358)


Announcements by the Speaker

C : Determination of the Supreme Court on the Bill entitled “Sri Lanka Electricity”
D : Receipt of copies of petitions in respect of the Bill titled “Sri Lanka Telecommunications (Amendment)” filed at the Supreme Court
E : Receipt of copies of petitions in respect of the Bill titled “Economic Transformation” filed at the Supreme Court
F : Question of privilege raised by the Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka, M.P.
G : Member to serve in the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Defence
H : Member to serve in the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Trade, Commerce and Food Security
I : Member to serve in the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Economic Stabilization
J : Member to serve in the Sectoral Oversight Committee on An Open & Accountable Government
K : Member to serve in the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Children, Women and Gender
L : Members to serve in the Panel of Chairs
M : Members to serve in the Committee on Constitutional Affairs
N : An awareness session on "Sustainable Development Goals in Sri Lanka, progress and Future measures" for the Members of the Parliament


Presentation of Papers by the Speaker

•    Second Installment – Part LVII of the Report of the Auditor–General for the Financial Year 2020;
•    Second Installment – Part LIII  and Third Installment Part XXII of the Report of the Auditor–General for the Financial Year 2021; and
•    Second Installment – Part XLIX 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 Official Languages Commission for the year 2022
(ii)    Performance Report of the Office of the Cabinet of Ministers for the year 2023
(iii)    Annual Performance Report of the Office of the Leader of the House of Parliament for the year 2023
(iv)    Annual Performance Report of the Office of the Chief Government Whip of Parliament for the year 2023
(v)    Performance Report of the Ministry of Fisheries for the year 2023
(vi)    Annual Report of the National Council for Road Safety for the year 2022
(vii)    Annual Report of the Ceylon Fertilizer Company Ltd for the year 2020/2021
(viii)    Annual Report of the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka for the year 2022
(ix)    Performance Report of the Ministry of Tourism and Lands for the year 2023
(x)    Performance Report of the Land Use Policy Planning Department for the year 2023
(xi)    Annual Report of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health for the year 2022

(xii) 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 Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies in the report of the Committee on Public Accounts which was presented to Parliament
(xiii)    Aswesuma Welfare Benefit Payment Scheme made by the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies under Section 9 of the Welfare Benefits Act, No. 24 of 2002, relating to Welfare Benefits and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2384/30 of 17th May 2024


Presentation of Reports from the Committees

(i)    The Report of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Power & Energy was presented by the Hon. Kanchana Wijesekara, the Chair of the Committee.
(ii)    The Report of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Children, Women and Gender was presented by the Hon. (Mrs.) Thalatha Athukorala, Attorney at Law, the Chair of the Committee.
(iii)    The Report of the Conceptual Policy Framework for Food Security prepared by the Sub – Committee of the National Council on Identifying the Priorities in Formulation of Short, Medium & Long Term National Policies was presented by the Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney at Law, the Chair of the Committee.
(iv)    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. Nimal Piyathissa          -      Two Petitions
(ii)    The Hon. Samanpriya Herath                    
(Petitions stand referred to the Committee on Public Petitions)


Questions under Standing Order 27(2) of the Parliament

(i)    The Hon. Sajith Premadasa

Strike by university non-academic staff

(ii) The Hon. Anura Dissanayaka

Trade union actions by university non-academic staff

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


Private Members’ Bills

The Hon. Chandima Weerakkody, Attorney at Law was granted leave to introduce the following Bill, entitled

“Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Sri Lanka (Incorporation) (Amendment)”


Main Business of the House for Today

The following Items (appearing as Item Nos. 1 to 3 of today’s Order Paper) were moved by the House. Item No. 1 was debated and adjourned for future date. Item Nos. 2 and 3 were passed by the House.:-

(i) Women Empowerment Bill — Second Reading
(ii)    Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers of Sri Lanka (Incorporation) Bill
(iii)    Dedigama Sri Maithri Pragnartha Bouddha Educational Daham Sabhawa (Incorporation) Bill


Motion at the Adjournment Time

Motion at the Adjournment Time on “Absorbing sports coaches in government schools to the academic staff” was proposed by the Hon. (Major) Sudarshana Denipitiya.


The Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1704 Hrs. until 0930 Hrs. on Wednesday 5th June 2024.

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