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.
2025-11-21
Hon. Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Saroja Savithri Paulraj stated that creating a society with an elevated mindset capable of serving humanity as human beings is the objective of the politics of the government. The Hon.Minister made these remarks during a meeting with representatives of the Eastern Social Development Foundation. She made these remarks on the occasion of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus in Parliament held in Parliament recently, (Nov. 17) to discuss improving the political inclusion of women’s groups who do not have representation in local politics. Attention of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus was also drawn to further expanding the possibility of obtaining nominations in a manner that represents special population groups living in the country. Furthermore, activities and the future work plan to be carried out under the leadership of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus to support the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) from November 25 to December 10 were also discussed with representatives of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Members of the Caucus Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees Hemali Weerasekara, Samanmali Gunasingha, Krishnan Kalaichelvi, A.M.M.M. Rathwaththe, Hiruni Wijesinghe, Attorney at Law, Hasara Liyanage, Attorney at Law, Lakmali Hemachandra, Attorney at Law, Geetha Herath, Attorney at Law, and Thushari Jayasingha, Attorney at Law were present at this meeting held.
2025-11-20
The Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government was recently summoned to the Committee Appointed to Review Non-implementation of the Recommendations of the Parliamentary Committees to inquire into the delays in implementing the recommendations made by the Committee on Public Petitions of Parliament. This matter was considered when the above committee met in Parliament on the Nov. 13th under the chairmanship of Hon. Minister Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law. Accordingly, the officials presented at the committee pointed out the practical problems that exist in implementing some of the said recommendations. The Committee was also informed that steps have already been taken to implement some of the recommendations. However, it was decided that the petitioner's views should also be sought regarding the problems arising in the implementation of certain recommendations, and accordingly, it was decided to summon the petitioners to the Committee on another date. The meeting was attended by the Hon. Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala, Attorney-at-Law, Hon. Members of Parliament Ravi Karunanayake, Ajith P. Perera, Attorney-at-Law, and Oshani Umanga
2025-11-20
The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability has drawn attention to the importance of accurately surveying and swiftly completing the mapping of all land in Sri Lanka. This matter was discussed when the Committee met on the Nov. 17th in Parliament, under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament Hector Appuhamy, to review the annual reports and annual performance reports of several State corporations, departments, commissions, and boards for the years 2021, 2022, and 2023. During the meeting, officials from the Survey Department informed the Committee that, as estimated, Sri Lanka has approximately 16.5 million land parcels, of which only about 2.5 million have been surveyed and mapped. Emphasizing the importance of completing the surveying and mapping of the remaining land parcels as soon as possible, the Committee Chairman stated that all relevant parties would be summoned before the Committee to discuss the necessary actions and the future work plan. The Committee also reviewed the annual reports of the Land Reform Commission for the years 2022 and 2023. In addition, the Committee held extensive discussions regarding the revenue loss caused by the Land Reform Commission granting land without entering into legally valid agreements. The Committee Chairman emphasized the importance of issuing land under proper lease agreements in the future and instructed officials to formulate a mechanism to recover the outstanding lease payments and present a comprehensive report on all arrears to the Committee. The meeting was attended by Hon. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, and Committee Members Hon. MPs Gnanamuttu Srineshan, Susanta Kumara Navaratna, Sudath Balagalla, and Attorney-at-Law Bhagya Sri Herath.
2025-11-19
The Social Security Contribution Levy (Amendment) and Betting and Gaming Levy (Amendment) Bills were approved by the Committee on Public Finance. This approval was given at the meeting of the Committee on Public Finance, chaired by Hon. Dr. Harsha de Silva, held in Parliament on the Nov. 17th. Officials who attended pointed out that the Social Security Contribution Levy (Amendment) Bill introduces four amendments to the Social Security Contribution Levy Act No. 25 of 2022. After an extensive discussion, the Committee granted its approval. In addition, the Betting and Gaming Levy (Amendment) Bill will amend the Betting and Gaming Levy Act No. 40 of 1988. Through these amendments, the gross collection levy will be increased from 15% to 18%, and the casino entrance levy imposed on Sri Lankan citizens will be increased from USD 50 to USD 100. After reviewing these proposals, the Committee granted approval. Further, approval was also given for a regulation issued under the Finance Act No. 11 of 2004, which extends the validity period for the payment of the International Telecommunication Operators’ Levy. Additionally, the Committee reviewed the Rules regarding Exercise License Fee under Section 32, read with Section 25 of the Excise Ordinance (Chapter 52). However, approval was not granted for these rules. The Chair of the Committee instructed that a proper analysis be provided to the Committee, after which the matter will be reconsidered. The meeting was attended by Hon. Deputy Ministers Dr. Kaushalya Ariyaratne, Nishantha Jayaweera, Hon. Members of Parliament Ravi Karunanayake, Attorney-at-Law Chitral Fernando, and Attorney-at-Law Lakmali Hemachandra.
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