2022-06-15
News Categories : Committee News
Special attention to the proposed Animal Welfare Bill with the support of the Government as well as NGOs and Animal Welfare Groups under a lengthy consultation process was given at the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Agriculture held recently (10) under the chairmanship of Hon. Mahinda Amaraweera, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation.
The main purpose of this Act is to show kindness, compassion and due diligence to animals and to ensure the protection, welfare and well-being of animals and to protect them from cruelty to animals. Thus, Hon. Mahinda Amaraweera requested during the Committee that further attention should be paid to the matters raised pertaining to the Bill and if any amendments are made following discussion, such amendments to be submitted.
Furthermore, as people are now more interested in-home gardening in the face of the current food crisis, the importance of further encouraging people to cultivate home gardening as well as the use of land in all government offices for cultivation was given attention too during the committee meeting.
The Minister said that it is planned to deploy Army personnel, Civil Defense Force as well as approximately 3,000 prisoners to make this a success and further discussions are being held in this regard.
The Committee also observed the use of unused paddy lands in all areas including the Colombo District as well as reclamation of paddy lands, construction of buildings and irrigation problems. Accordingly, it is important to establish a committee at the district level and prepare a proper document regarding cultivable paddy lands and non-cultivable lands, the Minister said.
The Committee also drew attention to the importance of encouraging rural and urban youth to cultivate fallow paddy lands and briefed the officers on the preparation and implementation of a proper plan for this purpose and the assistance of the Agricultural Research Officers for the continuous cultivation of lands which are not currently cultivated, said Hon. Mahinda Amaraweera, Minister, at the Committee.
Attention was also drawn to the provision of fertilizer from India for paddy and maize in July and further stated that the distribution of fertilizer will be done in a planned manner as well as identifying priorities.
The Committee also drew attention to the damage to the crop and stated that a progressive report should be prepared in this regard. The Committee pointed out the importance of conducting agro clinics island wide to impart the knowledge required by the people, especially in home gardening activities, and the officials should take active steps accordingly.
The Secretary to the Ministry explained to the House that he was ready to bring to the attention of all Members of Parliament the “Ekwa Wawamu – Rata Dinawamu” program as a program to encourage the cultivation of uncultivated lands and there is an opportunity to make proposals in this regard.
Hon. Members of Parliament Hon. Cader Mastan, Hon. Tharaka Balasuriya, Hon. Sivagnanam Sridharan, Hon. Mohomad Muzammil, Hon. Weerasumana Weerasinghe, Hon. Madhura Withanage, Hon. Upul Mahendra Rajapaksha and officials were present at the Committee meeting held.
2025-11-06
A high-level Chinese delegation led by Hon. Wang Guosheng, Member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and Director of its Economic Affairs Committee, today (Nov. 06) met with a group of Parliamentary committee members. Accordingly, the delegation met with members of the, the Committee on Ways and Means, and the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Economic Development and International Relations and other Members of Parliament at the Parliamentary premises. The delegation also participated in a luncheon meeting hosted by Hon. Deputy Speaker Dr. Rizvi Salih, during which discussions were held on further enhancing bilateral relations between the two countries. During the discussions, the delegation reaffirmed China’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation and expressed their intention to encourage Chinese investment in Sri Lanka across multiple sectors. Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means Hon. Member of Parliament Wijesiri Basnayake; Chair of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Economic Development and International Relations Hon. Member of Parliament Lakmali Hemachandra (Attorney-at-Law); and Hon. Members of Parliament Ravi Karunanayake, Sujeewa Senasinghe (Attorney-at-Law), K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera, Ruwan Mapalagama, and Chathura Galappaththi participated in the discussions. Secretary General of Parliament Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera, Director (Legislative Services) and Acting Director (Communication) Mr. M. Jayalath Perera and a group of Parliamentary officials were also present at this meeting. During the meeting, the chair of the Committee on Ways and Means Hon. Member of Parliament Wijesiri Basnayake emphasized the deep-rooted friendship between Sri Lanka and China, noting that this visit further strengthens their longstanding bilateral relations. He expressed appreciation for China’s continued support in various fields and highlighted that the recent visit of Hon. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to China had further enhanced this partnership. Speaking at the meeting, Hon. Wang Guosheng described Sri Lanka as a close friend of China and reaffirmed China’s commitment to advancing cooperation in diverse areas including tourism, trade, and investment. He also noted that they hope to encourage more Chinese enterprises to explore the investment opportunities in Sri Lanka. Chair of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Economic Development and International Relations Hon. Member of Parliament Lakmali Hemachandra (Attorney-at-Law) requested the Chinese delegation’s assistance in advancing Sri Lanka’s industrial sector, emphasizing the nation’s focus on sustainable economic development and technology-driven growth. She also conveyed her sincere gratitude for the hospitality extended to the Sri Lankan delegation during their visit a few months earlier. Speaking at the meeting, Hon. Members of Parliament Ravi Karunanayake and Sujeewa Senasinghe (Attorney-at-Law) underscored the need to deepen economic cooperation and explore opportunities for establishing manufacturing facilities in Sri Lanka. Members of the Chinese delegation included Hon. Fu Zhifang, Member of the CPPCC National Committee and Deputy Director of the Economic Affairs Committee; Hon. Mao Digzhi, Member of the CPPCC Economic Affairs Committee; Mr. Liu Huanxing, Director of the Office of the CPPCC Economic Affairs Committee; Mr. Zhang Jinjie, Director of the Fiscal and Economic Division of the CPPCC Economic Affairs Committee; and H.E. Qi Zhenhong, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Sri Lanka. The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to deepening cooperation and promoting mutually beneficial partnerships between Sri Lanka and China.
2025-11-03
Officials state that by September 30, 117% of the expected revenue target had been achieved A new digital system to be introduced for the auctioning of confiscated goods Officials of Sri Lanka Customs informed the Committee on Ways and Means that as of September 30, 2025, they had been able to achieve 117% of the expected revenue target. They stated that the expected customs revenue as of September 30, 2025, was Rs. 1,485 billion, while revenue amounting to Rs. 1,737 billion had been collected by that date. These facts were revealed at a recent meeting of the Committee on Ways and Means of Parliament, chaired by Hon. Member of Parliament Wijesiri Basnayake. Officials further explained to the Committee that, compared to the previous year, customs revenue had recorded a significant increase every month this year. Accordingly, by October 14, 2025, the highest revenue had been generated through vehicle imports, which had earned Rs. 587.11 billion constituting 37% of the total revenue by that date. By 14th October 55,447 motor cars had been imported, generating customs duties amounting to Rs. 474.26 billion. Additionally, 7,331 goods transport vehicles had been imported, generating Rs. 48.67 billion in revenue. Imports also included 142,524 motorcycles and 15,035 three-wheelers, earning Rs. 30.37 billion and Rs. 15.10 billion respectively. Furthermore, 1,679 passenger transport buses and vans had been imported, contributing Rs. 12.66 billion in revenue, according to officials. Attention was also drawn to the future targets and technological advancements of Sri Lanka Customs. Officials informed the Committee that steps have been taken to introduce a new digital system (E-Tendering system) for the auctioning of confiscated goods and that it is scheduled to be launched in the near future. The Committee observed that this initiative would serve as a valuable precedent for other state institutions as well. Members of the committee Hon. Deputy Minister (Prof.) Ruwan Ranasinghe, Hon. Deputy Minister Eranga Weeraratne, and Hon. Members of Parliament Ajith P. Perera Attorneys-at-Law, Sujeewa Senasinghe Attorneys-at-Law, Sujith Sanjaya Perera, Sunil Biyanwila, and Champika Hettiarachchi and Officials including Director General of Customs Mr. Seevali Arukgoda were present at this meeting.
2025-10-29
A discussion aimed at sharing agricultural development experiences and expanding future cooperation opportunities between the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation and a Chinese delegation led by Yan Yalin, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of Yunnan Province, was held recently (Oct. 24) at the Parliament premises. The meeting was chaired by Hon. Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Namal Karunaratne, during which discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between the two countries in the fields of tea, coffee, and tobacco cultivation. Expressing his views at the discussion, Hon. Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne stated that preliminary discussions had already been conducted at the ministerial level and that this meeting aimed to facilitate in-depth dialogue between the delegation and Members of Parliament on these sectors. Appreciating the continuous support extended by China to Sri Lanka’s development process over the years, the Hon. Deputy Minister also emphasized the longstanding friendship between Sri Lanka and China. He further noted that such interactions would contribute to strengthening bilateral cooperation and to the modernization and expansion of Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector. Both parties exchanged views regarding the development of the tea, coffee, and tobacco industries, with particular focus on the application of modern technological innovations. The need to utilize advanced technology to address challenges arising from the declining labor force and to improve the productivity of tea cultivation was also discussed. The Chinese delegation proposed the use of fourth-generation fertilizers as suitable for improving soil fertility and enhancing crop yields. Attention was also drawn to coffee cultivation, where it was noted that Sri Lanka’s coffee industry had demonstrated notable progress over the past decade. The need to expand the allocation of land for coffee cultivation was discussed as well. Officials indicated that currently over 5,000 hectares are under coffee cultivation and that plans are underway to expand it to 10,000 hectares within the next two years. Furthermore, discussions were held regarding Sri Lanka’s tobacco industry, where it was pointed out that exporting value-added finished products to the market instead of raw materials would enable Sri Lanka to gain better access to international markets. It was also highlighted that the tobacco industry in Sri Lanka still operates on a small-scale basis, and the Chinese delegation stressed the importance of developing it into a large-scale, factory-centered industry. Hon. Members of Parliament of the Ministerial Consultative Committee and other Hon. Members, Chinese representatives, and officials from Parliament and the Ministry participated in this meeting.
2025-10-29
The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) questioned the North Western Provincial Council over its decision to adopt a “Design and Build Procurement Process” for a six-storey office complex, resulting in a higher financial burden on the Council, despite no feasibility study report having been obtained Although the North Western Provincial Council, together with the Kurunegala Municipal Council, had called for tenders and entered into an agreement with a contractor for the construction of the six-storey office building, it was disclosed before COPA that the construction work has now been suspended due to an ongoing supervisory inquiry. It was also disclosed that a feasibility study report, which is a prerequisite for such a project, had not been obtained. Furthermore, COPA emphasized that choosing the Design and Build Procurement Process which shifts the entire design and construction responsibility to the contractor, for a standard six-storey office building (not of a special nature) was problematic, as it imposed an unnecessary financial burden on the Provincial Council. These matters were discussed during the meeting of the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA), chaired by Hon. Kabir Hashim, Member of Parliament, held on 23.10.2025, to examine the Auditor General’s Reports for the years 2023 and 2024 and the current performance of the North Western Provincial Council. Accordingly, COPA decided to summon the respective officials for further examination of this construction project and recommended that within one month, all recommendations, procurement documents, technical committee reports, and all other related records pertaining to the project be submitted to the Auditor General. COPA also inquired into the recovery of loan funds and overdue interest provided by the Department of the Food Commissioner through the Department of Co-operative Development of the North Western Province to paddy-producing co-operative societies. It was recommended that a report including the measures taken to recover these funds, along with a timeline, be submitted to COPA within two months. Further, although the Provincial Land Commissioner’s Department had been instructed to prepare a comprehensive record on state lands, COPA observed that such records were not being properly maintained to allow identification of all state lands, details on lands given on long-term lease with or without approval, and arrears in lease rentals. COPA emphasized that officials must take action without hesitation to recover monies due to the government and assured that the Committee will extend all necessary support to ensure this. Accordingly, the Committee recommended that a report on the total amount expected to be recovered by the end of this year be submitted. It was further revealed that due to ongoing supervisory issues, approximately Rs. 85 million in tax arrears could not be recovered, and COPA directed that a detailed report on this matter also be submitted to the Committee. The meeting was attended by COPA Members including Hon. Deputy Ministers Aravinda Senaratne and Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), and Hon. Members of Parliament (Dr.) Janaka Senarathna, T.K. Jayasundara, Ruwanthilaka Jayakody, Thushari Jayasinghe, Attorney-at-Law Sagarika Athauda, Attorney-at-Law and Sunil Rathnasiri.
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