PARLIAMENT

The Hon. Ajith Rajapakse, the Deputy Speaker and the Chair of the Committee took the Chair.


Announcements by the Speaker

A : Determination of the Supreme Court on the Bill entitled “Reciprocal Recognition, Registration and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments”
B : Determination of the Supreme Court on the Bill entitled “Immigration”
C : Endorsement of the certificate on Bills under Article 79 of the Constitution


Presentation of Papers by the Speaker

A.    The Second Report of the Constitutional Council submitted in terms of Article 41G (1) of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

B. 
(i)    
•    Fourth Installment – Part XXVIII of the Report of the Auditor–General for the Financial Year 2022; and
•    First Installment – Parts V and VI 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

(ii) The Special Audit Report on the Food Security and Livelihood Recovery Emergency Assistance Project carried out on the Loan Assistance of the Asian Development Bank in the Eighth Installment of the Report of the Auditor General in terms of Article 154(6) of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

(iii) The Performance Audit Report on Evaluation of the Performance of the Private Health Service Regulatory Process in Sri Lanka in the Eighth Installment of the Report of the Auditor General 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 Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka for the year 2022
(ii)    Annual Report of the National Child Protection Authority for the year 2022
(iii)    Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration for the year 2022
(iv)    Performance Report and Accounts of the Registrar General’s Department for the year 2023
(v)    Annual Report of the State Printing Corporation for the year 2022
(vi)    Annual Report of the University of Vavuniya for the year 2022
(vii)    Annual Report of the Ceylon German Technical Training Institute for the year 2022
(viii)    Annual Performance Report of the Educational Publications Department for the year 2023
(ix)    Annual Report of the Ceylon Shipping Corporation Ltd for the year 2022/2023
(x)    Annual Performance Reports of the Transport and Highways Sectors of the Ministry of Transport and Highways for the year 2023
(xi)    Annual Report of the Coconut Research Institute for the year 2022
(xii)    Performance Report of the Registrar of the Supreme Court for the year 2023
(xiii)    Annual Report of the National Enterprise Development Authority for the year 2020
(xiv)    Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment for the year 2022
(xv)    Annual Report of the Consumer Affairs Authority for the year 2022

(xvi) Regulations made by the Minister of Investment Promotion in consultation with the Colombo Port City Economic Commission and with the concurrence of the Governing Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka in relation to offshore banking business, under Section 71 read with Sections 27, 28 and 45 of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act, No. 11 of 2021 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2387/38 of 06th June 2024
(xvii)    Order made by the Minister of Investment Promotion having considered the recommendations of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission and upon the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers under Section 53 of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act, No. 11 of 2021 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2378/35 of 05th April 2024
(xviii)    Order made by the Minister of Investment Promotion having considered the recommendations of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission and upon the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers under Section 53 of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act, No. 11 of 2021 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2380/33 of 19th April 2024
(xix)    Order made by the Minister of Investment Promotion having considered the recommendations of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission and upon the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers under Section 53 of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act, No. 11 of 2021 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2380/34 of 19th April 2024
(xx)    Order made by the Minister of Investment Promotion having considered the recommendations of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission and upon the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers under Section 53 of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act, No. 11 of 2021 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2380/35 of 19th April 2024
(xxi)    Order made by the Minister of Investment Promotion having considered the recommendations of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission and upon the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers under Section 53 of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act, No. 11 of 2021 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2380/36 of 19th April 2024
(xxii)    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 Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development in the report of the Committee on Ways and Means which was presented to Parliament


Presentation of Reports from the Committees

(i)    The Third Report of the Committee on Public Accounts for the Fifth Session of the Ninth Parliament was presented by the Hon. Lasantha Alagiyawanna, the Chair of the Committee.
(ii)    The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development was presented by the Hon. Ajith Mannapperuma, the Chair of the Committee.


Presentation of Petitions

(i)    The Hon. Imran Maharoof                    
(ii)    The Hon. Gamini Waleboda                    
(Petitions stand referred to the Committee on Public Petitions)


Questions under Standing Order 27(2) of the Parliament

(i)    The Hon. Sajith Premadasa

Issues regarding constructing of salt barrier across Nilwala River

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

Conducting of election

The Hon. State Minister of Provincial Councils, Local Government and Environment replied to the above Question.


Ministerial Statements

Hon. (Dr.) Bandula Gunawardana, Minister of Transport and Highways and Minister of Mass Media made a Ministerial Statement regarding death threat to SLBC chairman Mr. Hudson Samarasingha by Mr. Wasantha Samarasinghe.


Questions of Privilege

Hon. Shehan Semasinghe

CoPA Report regarding visa issue


Presentation of Bills

The Hon. Minister of Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms moved the following Bills entitled-
(i)    Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties (Amendment) - to amend the Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties Act, No. 2 of 2018.
(ii)    Safeguard Measures (Amendment) - to amend the Safeguard Measures Act, No. 3 of 2018.
(iii)    Penal Code (Amendment) - to amend the Penal Code (Chapter 19).
(iv)    Mediation Boards (Amendment) - to amend the Mediation Boards Act, No. 72 of 1988.


Main Business of the House for Today

The following Items (appearing as Item Nos. 1 to 3 of today’s Order Paper) were approved by the House.:-

(i) Civil Procedure Code (Amendment) Bill - with amendments
(ii) Two Regulations under the Judicature Act


Motion at the Adjournment Time

Motion at the Adjournment Time on “Identification & find solutions for issues of youth” was proposed by the Hon. Hesha Withanage.


The Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1803 Hrs. until 0930 Hrs. on Wednesday 24th July 2024.

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