PARLIAMENT

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


Presentation of Papers

(i)    Performance Report of the Audit Service Commission for the year 2023
(ii)    Annual Report of the National Library and Documentation Services Board for the year 2020
(iii)    Performance Report of the Department of the Registrar of Companies for the year 2023
(iv)    Annual Report of the Ceylon Electricity Board for the year 2022
(v)    Performance Report of the Department of Immigration and Emigration for the year 2023

(vi) Notification made by the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies under Section 32 read with Section 25 of the Excise Ordinance (Chapter 52) and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2366/39 of 12th January 2024
    (Excise Notification No. 02/2024)
(vii)    Mid — Year Fiscal Position Report of the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies for the year 2024
(viii)    Free Trade Agreement between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Kingdom of Thailand together with the booklet containing the summary of the said Agreement
(ix)    Regulations made by the Minister of Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms under Sections 6 and 10 read with Section 63 of the Debt Conciliation Ordinance (Chapter 81) and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2381/23 of 22nd April 2024


Presentation of Reports from the Committees

(i)    The Report of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Just and Law - Abiding Society was presented by the Hon. W. D. J. Seneviratne, Attorney at Law, 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. J. C. Alawathuwala          -      Two Petitions
(ii)    The Hon. (Dr.) Major Pradeep Undugoda                    
 (Petitions stand referred to the Committee on Public Petitions)


Main Business of the House for Today

The following Motions (appearing as Item No. 1 to 5 of today’s Order Paper) were moved by the House and Passed:-

•    Minimizing the damage caused to bio-diversity by invasive plants and animals

That this Parliament resolves that the Government should make interventions to identify and name the invasive plants and animals that can cause damage to bio-diversity in Sri Lanka and to prohibit breeding and importing of such plants and animals in order to protect the environment in Sri Lanka and that appropriate action should be taken promptly to formulate necessary laws in that regard.

•    Preparation of a programme to strengthen the audit and legal sections of the Ministry of Sports

That this parliament resolves that, whereas, many sports associations in Sri Lanka including cricket have become extremely corrupt at present, the government should develop a programme aimed at strengthening the audit and legal sections of the Ministry of Sports to effectively mitigate this situation.

•    The need for preventing religious extremism

That this Parliament resolves that the government should prepare an expeditious program to prevent the attempts made to surface and promote religious extremism and to rehabilitate those who have already become victims of it, since having extremist views in any field in any country can be immensely harmful, whereas there has been a serious discourse in society regarding religious extremism following the Easter Sunday attack taken place.

•    Filling all public sector job vacancies on the basis of Z-score obtained by students in the G.C.E (Advance Level) Examination

That this Parliament resolves that the Government should take necessary measures to take into account the Z-score obtained in the G.C.E (Advance Level) Examination by the students when filling vacancies at all government departments, corporations, authorities, boards and provincial councils affiliated institutions, whereas the policies adopted by the former and existing governments in recruitment to the public service on the basis of political allegiance or preferences have seriously damaged the independence of the public service, and due to the fact that it is necessary to make the highly politicized public service completely independent, as giving jobs only on the basis of educational qualification will ensure justice and fairness to the talented and qualified youth, and eradicate youth unrest, and as  the vacancies arising in the district would be given to the residents of the respective district will assure the economic security of the employees and create the opportunity to get a highly efficient service to the public sector.

•    Declaring the Day of the Martyrs of the Hill Country Trade Union

That this Parliament resolves that the Hill Country Trade Union Martyrs Day be declared in order to commemorate the first worker and all the martyrs who laid down their lives in the pursuit of non-violent struggle for the rights and welfare of the plantation workers and that the day shall be set on the 10th of  January as it aligns with the sacrifice of the first Hill Country martyr, “Mulloya Govinthan”, who had been shot dead by a white national, during the first trade union struggle for salary hikes of plantation workers in Sri Lanka unfolded from December 1939 to January 1940, and whereas through democratic means, the Hill Country plantation workers have fervently  fought for and secured their rights and as a testament to their struggles, the Hill Country people of Indian origin have long demanded that these martyrs who selflessly laid down their lives in the pursuit of democracy be commemorated on a designated day, and the Hill Country plantation workers stand as a community in Sri Lanka’s history, having made significant contributions to its economic growth.


Questions at the Adjournment Time

One Question was asked by the following Member of Parliament:-
The Hon. (Prof.) Charitha Herath


The Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1503 Hrs. until 0930 Hrs. on Tuesday 23rd July 2024.

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