PARLIAMENT

• The Parliament of Sri Lanka engage in a self-assessment exercise with the support of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association to fulfill the recommended legislative benchmarks

Mr. Fraser McIntosh, Programmes Manager of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s (CPA) Good Governance Project, and Ms. Alexandria Faure, Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly of Seychelles, met with the Hon. Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne in Parliament on 24.03.2025.

This meeting took place during the visit of CPA officials to Sri Lanka, who were in the country to assist with the self-assessment exercise conducted by the Parliament of Sri Lanka from March 24 to March 28, 2025, based on the CPA’s recommended benchmarks for democratic legislatures.

The CPA representatives briefed the Speaker on the importance of these benchmarks that have been reviewed and presented by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

They pointed out that these benchmarks offer a comprehensive framework outlining the minimum standards and guidelines for the establishment and operation of a Parliament. The delegation emphasized the potential of these benchmarks to promote more democratic and transparent lawmaking processes and encouraged the Parliament of Sri Lanka to consider conducting a self-assessment based on these guidelines.  

In response, Hon. Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne shared his perspective on Sri Lanka’s parliamentary practices, highlighting that the country continues to follow the Westminster parliamentary tradition and uphold its conventions. He noted that the Parliament of Sri Lanka is committed to align with the CPA's recommended benchmarks for democratic legislatures. The Speaker also pointed out that all parliamentary committees have been established for the Tenth Parliament, providing greater opportunities for Members of Parliament to engage in legislative matters and contribute more effectively to the lawmaking process.

The CPA officials also met with the Hon. Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Dr. Rizvie Salih, and the Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, Mrs. Hemali Weerasekara. During the meeting the Deputy Speaker, highlighted the ongoing efforts to establish a more inclusive and democratic parliamentary culture, where all Members of Parliament, regardless of party affiliation, have the opportunity to contribute in the chamber. The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of the Committee, Ms. Hemali Weerasekara, stated that the increase in women's representation in the Tenth Parliament is a very positive message.

The delegation also met with Hon. Leader of the House of Parliament Minister Bimal Ratnayake, and reaffirmed that Parliament of Sri Lanka currently meets the recommended benchmarks for democratic legislatures. The delegation offered technical assistance to support further development in this regard.

Minister Ratnayake pointed out the vital role of parliamentary staff in fostering a democratic parliamentary culture and underscored the need for providing workshops, international training programs, and knowledge sharing opportunities. He also informed plans to establish a Parliamentary Academy by next year to enhance the capabilities of Parliament staff. In response, the CPA representatives assured their support and readiness to assist in these initiatives.

The delegation also met with the Secretary General of Parliament, Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera, Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General, Mr. Chaminda Kularatne, and Assistant Secretary General, Mr. Hansa Abeyratne. During the meeting, the Secretary General provided an overview of Parliament's current operations and highlighted areas that require improvement. She also stated that, at present, only the proceedings of the chamber are being conducted with sign language interpretation. She mentioned plans to expand sign language interpretation to the proceedings of key committees, including COPE and COPA.

Mr. Fraser McIntosh and Ms. Alexandria Faure engaged in discussions with Hon. Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara, the Women Parliamentarians' Caucus, as well as the heads of departments and staff of Parliament.

The delegation of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association presented their observations and experiences from the self-assessment exercise conducted by the Parliament to the Secretary General of Parliament, Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera, on the final day of the programme, which was held on 28th March 2025. The Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General, Mr. Chaminda Kularatne, and the Assistant Secretary General, Mr. Hansa Abeyratne were also present at this occasion.

The delegation expressed their views, stating that they would present a report on the self-assessment exercise conducted by the Sri Lankan Parliament in the future. They also affirmed their commitment to continuously providing the necessary support for a democratic legislature.