PARLIAMENT

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


Official Oath or Affirmation by New Members

The Hon. Kathiravelu Sanmugam Kuhadasan 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. Rajavarothiam Sampanthan.


Announcements by the Speaker

A : Endorsement of the certificate on Bills under Article 79 of the Constitution
B : Receipt of a copy of a petition in respect of the Bill titled “Reciprocal Recognition, Registration and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments” filed at the Supreme Court
C : Receipt of a copy of a petition in respect of the Bill titled “Immigration” filed at the Supreme Court


Presentation of Papers by the Speaker

1. The report dated 26.06.2024 containing the observations of the Judicial Service Commission signed by the Hon. Chairman and the two member Hon. Judges of the said Commission and the letter dated 26.06.2024 received from the Hon. Chief Justice regarding the statement made by the Hon. Minister of Justice, Prisons and Constitutional Reforms in Parliament on 19.06.2024 regarding the judicial system and the complaint dated 25.06.2024 about the violation of his privileges, immunities and powers as a Member of Parliament, which has been forwarded to me with a copy to the Hon. Chief Justice
2.  
   •    Second Installment – Part LVIII of the Report of the Auditor–General for the Financial Year 2020;
   •    Ninth Installment – Part XL of the Report of the Auditor–General for the Financial Year 2021;
   •    Second Installment – Parts LI and LII and Ninth Installment –Parts XXXV and XXXVI of the Report of the Auditor–General for the Financial Year 2022; and
   •    Second Installment – Parts I and 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 Performance Report of the Public Service Commission for the year 2023
(ii)    Annual Performance Report of the Department of Probation and Child Care Services for the year 2023
(iii)    Annual Report of the Road Development Authority for the year 2022
(iv)    Annual Performance Report of the Legal Draftsman’s Department for the year 2023
(v)    Performance Report of the Department of Prisons for the year 2023
(vi)    Annual Report of the National Design Centre for the year 2021
(vii)    Annual Report of the Wijaya Kumaratunga Memorial Hospital for the year 2022
(viii)    Annual Performance Report of the Ministry of Power and Energy for the year 2023

(ix) 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 Institutions coming under the purview of the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies in the reports of the Committee on Public Accounts which were presented to Parliament
(x)    Proclamation made and Published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2391/27 of         04th July 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
(xi)    Order made by the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies under Section 19A of the Customs Ordinance (Chapter 235) as amended by the Customs (Amendment) Law No. 35 of 1974 and the Customs (Amendment) Act, No. 83 of 1988 relating to Customs Import Duty and published in the Gazette Extraordinary  No. 2389/07 of 18th June 2024
(xii)    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 01.05.2024 to 07.06.2024 under Section 6(1) of the Appropriation Act, No. 34 of 2023
(xiii)    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. 2364/29 of 28th December 2023


Presentation of Reports from the Committees

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 Siripala de Silva, Attorney at Law                    
(ii)    The Hon. Nimal Piyathissa                             -    Two Petitions
(iii)    The Hon. Weerasumana Weerasinghe                    
(Petitions stand referred to the Committee on Public Petitions)


Questions under Standing Order 27(2) of the Parliament

(i)    The Hon. Sajith Premadasa

Solution for pensioners’ grievances

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

Solution to reduce the food prices

The Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Plantation Industries replied to the above Question.


Motions for Leave of Absence

Leave of Parliament was granted to the Hon. (Prof.) Tissa Vitarana, Member of Parliament to be absent from sittings of Parliament with effect from 09.07.2024, moved by the Hon. Chief Opposition Whip.


Questions of Privilege

Hon. (Dr.) Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe

Judicial services media statement regarding him


House agreed to the following Motions moved by the Hon. Leader of the House of Parliament -

(i) Sectoral Oversight Committees

That notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 111 of the Parliament and the resolution adopted by Parliament on 21st November 2022, Sectoral Oversight Committee on Health shall consist of twenty two (22) Members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection to serve, as per the decision taken on 03rd July 2024, by the Committee of Selection.

(ii) Ministerial Consultative Committees

That notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 112 of the Parliament and the resolution adopted by Parliament on 09th February 2024, Ministerial Consultative Committee on Health shall consist of twenty (20) Members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection to serve, as per the decision taken on 03rd July 2024, by the Committee of Selection.


Private Members’ Bills

The Hon. Madhura Withanage, Attorney at Law was granted leave to introduce the following Bills, entitled
(i)    Isiwara Development, Social Services and Charity Foundation (Incorporation)
(ii)    Association of Human Resources Professionals (Incorporation)


Main Business of the House for Today

The following Items (appearing as Item Nos. 1 to 8 of today’s Order Paper) were approved by the House. Item No. 8 was referred to the Legislative Standing Committee:-

(i) Sri Lanka Telecommunications (Amendment) Bill - with amendments
(ii)    Annual Report of the GSMB Technical Services (Pvt) Ltd (2021)
(iii)    Annual Report and Financial Statements of the Tower Hall Theatre Foundation (2021)
(iv)    Annual Report of the National Transport Medical Institute (2022)
(v)    Matara Season Organization
(vi)    Shaili Edutainment Foundation
(vii)    Samadhi Meditation and Yoga Centre
(viii)    Institute of Drafting Technologists Sri Lanka (Incorporation) Bill - Second Reading


Motion at the Adjournment Time

Motion at the Adjournment Time on “Regulation for early childhood development centres” was proposed by the Hon. Rohitha Abegunawardhana.


The Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1823 Hrs. until 0930 Hrs. on Wednesday 10th July 2024.

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