PARLIAMENT

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


Announcements by the Speaker

A : Determination of the Supreme Court on the Bill entitled “Gender Equality”
B : Co-opted Members to serve on Legislative Standing Committee for the consideration of the “Institution of Building Services Engineering & Technology of Sri Lanka (Incorporation) Bill”
C : Co-opted Member to serve on Legislative Standing Committee for the consideration of the “Penal Code (Amendment)” Bill”     
D : Question of privilege raised by the Hon. W. D. J. Seneviratne, Attorney-at-Law, M.P.
E : Question of privilege raised by the Hon. Lalith Varna Kumara, M.P.


Presentation of Papers

(i)    Supplementary Estimate No. 01 of 2024
(ii)    Performance Report of the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies for the year 2023
(iii)    Performance Report of the Department of Government Valuation for the year 2023
(iv)    Performance Report of the Department of External Resources for the year 2023
(v)    Performance Report of the Department of Public Enterprises for the year 2023
(vi)    Performance Report of the Department of Development Finance for the year 2023
(vii)    Performance Report of the Department of Public Finance for the year 2023
(viii)    Performance Report of the Election Commission for the year 2023
(ix)    Annual Performance Reports of the District Secretariats of Monaragala, Hambantota and Vavuniya for the year 2023
(x)    Performance Report of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources for the year 2023
(xi)    Annual Performance Report of the Department of Government Printing for the year 2023
(xii)    Performance Report of the Ministry of Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms for the year 2023
(xiii)    Annual Report of the Youth Corps for the year 2022
(xiv)    Annual Performance Report of the Department of National Museums for the year 2023

(xv) 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 Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption in the report of the Committee on Public Accounts which was presented to Parliament
(xvi)    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 District Secretariat– Ratnapura in the report of the Committee on Public Accounts which was presented to Parliament
(xvii)    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 Election Commission in the report of the Committee on Public Accounts which was presented to Parliament
(xviii)    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 05.04.2024 to 30.04.2024 under Section 6(1) of the Appropriation Act, No. 34 of 2023
(xix)    Report on the submission of observations and steps taken in terms of the Standing Order 124(6) of the Parliament with regard to the matters mentioned on the Ministry of Agriculture and Plantation Industries in the report of the Committee on Ways and Means which was presented to Parliament


Presentation of Reports from the Committees

(i)    The Report of the Committee on Public Finance was presented by the Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva, the Chair of the Committee.
(ii)    The Report of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Food Security and Agriculture was presented by the Hon. D. Weerasingha, the Chair of the Committee.


Presentation of Petitions

(i)    The Hon. Dullas Alahapperuma                    
(ii)    The Hon. Weerasumana Weerasinghe                    
(Petitions stand referred to the Committee on Public Petitions)


Ministerial Statements

Hon. Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Non Cabinet Minister of State Plantation Enterprises Reforms and State Minister of Finance, on behalf of the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies made a Ministerial Statement regarding Ways and Means Committee report on Taxation system.


Main Business of the House for Today

The following Items (appearing as Item Nos. 43 to 55 of today’s Order Paper) were approved by the House.:-

(i) Public Debt Management Bill - with amendments
(ii)    Order under the Ports and Airports Development Levy Act
(iii)    Resolution under the Inland Revenue Act
(iv)    Five Orders under the Special Commodity Levy Act
(v)    Regulation under the Inland Revenue Act
(vi)    Regulations under the Welfare Benefits Act
(vii)    Order under the Ports and Airports Development Levy Act
(viii)    Aswesuma Welfare Benefit Payment Scheme under the Welfare Benefits Act
(ix)    Resolution under the Essential Public Services Act


Questions at the Adjournment Time

One Question was asked by the following Member of Parliament:-

The Hon. Imran Maharoof


The Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1730 Hrs. until 0930 Hrs. on Tuesday 18th June 2024.

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