The Hon. (Dr.) Jagath Wickramaratne, the Speaker took the Chair.
Announcements by the Speaker
1 : Regarding asking supplementary Question for an Oral Question
Presentation of Papers
(i) Report on the observations and steps taken in terms of the Standing Order 119(4) of the Parliament with regard to the matters mentioned on the Ministry of Defence and the institutions coming under its purview in the report of the Committee on Public Accounts which was presented to Parliament.
(ii) Annual Report of the Defence Service Command and Staff College for the year 2023.
(iii) Annual Report of the Regional Development Bank for the year 2021.
(iv) Annual Report of the National Insurance Trust Fund for the year 2022.
(v) Annual Report of the Development Lotteries Board for the year 2023.
(vi) Annual Report of the National Lotteries Board for the year 2023.
(vii) Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Export Credit Insurance Corporation for the year 2023.
(viii) Annual Report of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences of the University of Peradeniya for the year 2023.
(ix) Annual Report of the Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of the University of Colombo for the year 2023.
(x) Annual Report and Accounts of the Postgraduate Institute of Indigenous Medicine of the University of Colombo for the year 2023.
(xi) Annual Report of the Postgraduate Institute of Pali and Buddhist Studies of the University of Kelaniya for the year 2023.
(xii) Order made by the Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education under Section 20(4)(b) of the Universities Act, No. 16 of 1978, with regard to the appointment of Senior Professor R. M. U. S. K. Rathnayaka as the Competent Authority in lieu of Vice Chancellor of the University of Ruhuna with effect from 25th February 2025 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2425/03 of 24th February 2025.
(xiii) Annual Report of the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited for the year 2022.
(xiv) Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management for the year 2022.
(xv) Annual Report of the Ceylon Fertilizer Company Limited for the year 2021/2022.
(xvi) Annual Report of the Coconut Cultivation Board for the year 2022.
(xvii) Annual Report of the National Institute of Co-operative Development — Polgolla for the year 2023.
(xviii) Annual Report of the Hotel Developers (Lanka) Limited for the year 2023.
Presentation of Petitions
(i) The Hon. Ajith P. Perera, Member of Parliament - Three Petitions
(ii) The Hon. Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi, Member of Parliament
(iii) The Hon. K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera, Member of Parliament
(iv) The Hon. Dewananda Suraweera, Member of Parliament - Three Petitions
(Petitions stand referred to the Committee on Public Petitions)
Questions under Standing Order 27(2) of the Parliament
(i) The Hon. Sajith Premadasa
Cabinet paper regarding purchasing of medicine under the G2G agreement
(ii) The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake
University education, admission etc.
The Hon. Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education replied to the above Question.
Ministerial Statements
Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma, Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, on behalf of the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development replied to the Question raised by the Hon. Sajith Premadasa under the Standing Order 27(2) of the Parliament on 09.04.2025 regarding Reciprocal tariff imposed by USA and IMF loan repayment.
Questions of Privilege
Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna
Non broadcasting of his parliamentary speeches
Privilege
The Privilege motion that the question of privilege arising out of the matter raised by the Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, M.P. on 18th March, 2025 in Parliament to the effect that his privileges have been infringed, moved by the Hon. Chief Opposition Whip, was referred to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges in terms of the provisions of Standing Order 118 of the Parliament.
Private Members’ Bills
The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney at Law was granted leave to introduce the following Bill, entitled
“Mabotuwana Sri Piyarathana Nayaka Thero Suwasevana Foundation (Incorporation)”
Main Business of the House for Today
The following Motions (appearing as Item Nos. 1 to 6 of today’s Order Paper) were moved by the House and Passed:-
• Appropriately curtailing the privileges enjoyed by people’s representatives representing the Parliament of Sri Lanka, and former Heads of State and their widows
That this Parliament resolves that whereas there has been discourse in the election campaigns as well as in the society about the privileges and perks enjoyed by the people’s representatives representing the Parliament of Sri Lanka, and former heads of state and their widows, the government, should pay attention to the requests from the general public and fulfill their expectations, by taking necessary measures to discuss and get a fair response from all the members of parliament from both the government and the opposition in Parliament regarding the measures necessary to appropriately reduce or abolish the privileges that have long been granted to them.
• Formulating a programme to enhance the state sector involvement in the importation and distribution of essential items of food
That this Parliament resolves that the government formulate a suitable programme to enhance the involvement of the state sector in the process of importing essential food items, medicines and other items as the public is confronted with numerous inconveniences owing to the aforesaid process being monopolized by a few individuals.
• Preparation of a course of action for the implementation of the recommendations given by the audit reports
That this Parliament resolves that, as the audit reports reveal facts about various financial frauds occurring in various ministries, departments, and statutory bodies of the government, the government should prepare a programme to implement the recommendations given by the audit reports to prevent such acts of fraud and corruption from happening in the government institutions.
• Providing a house for every family in Sri Lanka to live in
That this Parliament resolves that it is necessary to facilitate the chief householder by empowering him/her not to buy, construct or rent a house for his safety, security and well being as every family in Sri Lanka should be entitled to a house to live in.
• Formulation of laws to import only buses that comply with public transport standards
That this Parliament resolves that the Government should enact relevant laws ensuring that, in the future, only buses specifically manufactured for passenger transport, designed for passenger comfort, in compliance with public transport standards are imported by both the public and private sectors considering that buses operated by both the Sri Lanka Transport Board and the private sector are not in a suitable condition for passenger transport, and that most of these buses are built on lorry chassis.
• Taking actions to use all the buildings that have been constructed in Sri Lanka so far under the name of "development proposals", but have not been put to any use, for public usage
That this Parliament resolves that the Government should make appropriate decisions to renovate the buildings that have been constructed so far but are not put to any use, for public usage, whereas such buildings have been constructed across the country under the name of "development proposals " using foreign aid or foreign loans or using money from the central government or local authorities.
Questions at the Adjournment Time
One Question was asked by following Member of Parliament:-
The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney at Law
The Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1730 Hrs. until 0930 Hrs. on Tuesday 20th May 2025.
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