The Parliament approved the resolution to constitute the National Council on 09th of September 2022. According to this resolution,
(a) There shall be a Parliament Committee designated as “National Council”
(b) It consists of the Hon. Speaker as the Chair, the Prime Minister, Leader of the House of Parliament, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, the Chief Government Whip and not more than thirty five (35) Members of Parliament representing the Ninth Parliament from recognized political parties in Sri Lanka as determined by the Leaders of the Political Parties.
Accordingly, following 34 Members of Parliament representing the Ninth Parliament from recognized political parties in Sri Lanka had been appointed as Members of the National Council.
(c) The National Council has the jurisdiction and general responsibilities in order to;
- determine the general priorities of Parliament to guide the formulation of short, medium and long-term national policies.
- agree on short and medium-term common minimum programmes in respect of stabilization of the economy and
- arrange special meetings with the Ministers of the Cabinet of Ministers, the National Council, the Chairpersons of the Special Committees and Youth Observers of Youth Organizations
(d) The National Council has the powers to call for reports from
- Sectoral Oversight Committees
- The Committee on Public Finance
- The Committee on Public Accounts
- The Committee on Public Enterprises
- The Committee on Banking and Financial Services
- The Committee on Ways and Means
- The Committee on Economic Stabilization and
- Any Committee controlling public finance.
(e) The Cabinet of Ministers shall in the discharge of its duties under Article 43 of the Constitution submit reports to the Council
(f) The quorum of this National Council is ten (10) members.
(g) Any Member who absents himself from three consecutive meetings without having obtained the prior leave of the Committee shall be deemed to have vacated his membership of the Committee
An amendment to the Resolution for the constitution of the National Council was passed in the House on 03rd of October 2022 which states that “ The National Council shall have the power to summon before it and question any person, call for and examine any paper, book, record or other documents and general rules for Committees of the Standing Orders of the Parliament shall apply to the National Council”
At the first meeting of the National Council held on 29.09.2022 the National Council decided to appoint two Sub Committees on;
1) Identifying the Short & Medium Term Programmes related to Economic Stabilization
2) Identifying the Priorities in Formulation of Short, Medium & Long Term National Policies
The Sub Committee on Identifying the Short & Medium Term Programmes related to Economic Stabilization at its first meeting held on 7th of October 2022 appointed the Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka as the Chair of the Committee and the Sub Committee on Identifying the Priorities in Formulation of Short, Medium & Long Term National Policies at its first meeting held on the same day (07th of October 2022) appointed the Hon. Namal Rajapaksa as the Chair of the Committee.
Ninth Parliament of the D.S.R. of Sri Lanka | Fourth Session | National Council
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