2022-07-07
News Categories : Committee News
Hon. Prasanna Ranatunga, Minister of Urban Development and Housing, said that the supplementary estimate to be submitted to the Parliament will not allocate funds for urban development activities. The minister said that due to the economic crisis in the country, the treasury has informed that all the future development activities should be temporarily stopped and the development activities that have been started should also be temporarily stopped so as not to incur losses. The minister further stated that it can only be said correctly after the supplementary estimate is presented to the parliament.
The Minister mentioned this when the members of Parliament inquired about the allocation of funds for future development activities the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Urban Development & Housing met recently (05).
The development of Najima Estate on Ferguson Road, Colombo North was discussed at length. Officials of the Urban Development Authority mentioned that this land was used as an intermediate camp where the low-income people were temporarily settled until they were settled in permanent houses in 2006. But recently some people have forcibly settled in this land, so legal steps have been taken to evict them.
Also, the request made by the Member of Parliament Hon. Yadamini Gunawardena for rebuilding the Modara Kimbulaela playground was also considered here.
There was also a discussion at length regarding the problems in providing water supply to the residents of the apartment complexes in Colombo. Furthermore, the MPs were of the view that apartment owners living in Colombo receive one bill including housing charges and other charges together and that the water charges in it are very high.
Officials of the Urban Development Authority mentioned that because the National Water Supply and Drainage Board supplies water in bulk, monthly fees are charged according to the prices of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board.
The minister asked why the National Water Supply and Drainage Board cannot charge the water charges. Here the officials mentioned that they are currently working to establish the Condominium Management Authority to manage the apartments and after that these difficulties will be minimized.
Members of Parliament, officials from the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing, Urban Development Authority and other officials representing relevant institutions were present at the Committee meeting.
2025-02-16
The Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill approved by the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government. The approval was received when the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government met in Parliament today (Feb. 14) under the chairmanship of Hon. Minister (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayaratne. The annual reports of the Distance Learning Center for the years 2021 and 2022 were also considered by the Committee and approved. The Hon. Deputy Minister Ruwan Senarath, Deputy Ministers, Members of the Committee, Hon. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Members of Parliament and government officials were present in this committee meeting.
2025-02-13
A joint initiative between the Fisheries and Trade Ministries to sell fish through the Lanka Sathosa ChainMinistry of Fisheries to extend attention regarding the renovation of existing ports in the northern and eastern provinces The Hon. Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, Ramalingam Chandrasekar stated that necessary measures are being taken to prevent Indian fishermen from illegally entering Sri Lankan territorial waters.He expressed these views during the first meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources which was held in Parliament, recently (Feb. 07) under his Chairmanship. The Hon. Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, Rathna Gamage, was also present at the Committee meeting held.Accordingly, the Hon. Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar stated that discussion is underway with Tamil Nadu and the Indian High Commissioner to resolve this issue regarding Indian fishermen. He further mentioned that a swift resolution to this issue, which has affected local fishermen, would be provided without resorting to conflicts.Furthermore, extensive discussions were also held on initiating a joint program between the Ministries of Fisheries and Trade to sell fish through Lanka Sathosa. Expressing his views on this matter, the Hon. Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, Wasantha Samarasinghe, stated that there are plans to expand Lanka Sathosa network in the future and that the necessary arrangements could be made to sell fish through these stores. Officials representing the Ceylon Fisheries Corporation, commenting on the matter, stated that they are looking forward to promptly implementing the required measures to sell fish through Lanka Sathosa. Accordingly, they further stated that plans are in place to package the relevant fish varieties in a manner that makes them more convenient for consumers to prepare.During this meeting, various issues pertaining to the fisheries industry across the country were brought to the attention of the relevant officials by the Hon. Members of Parliament. Extensive discussions were held within the Committee on matters such as illegal fishing using prohibited nets and dynamite, issues related to Freshwater fisheries, and issues pertaining to domestic harbors. Expressing his views, the Committee Chair instructed the relevant officials to take necessary actions regarding the said issues. Additionally, he stated that the Ministry is paying more attention to the renovation of harbors in the Northern and Eastern provinces and is working towards resolving the existing issues.Moreover, The Annual Report of the Fishery Board Statutory Corporation for the year 2021 and the Annual Performance Report of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources for the year 2023 were also considered and approved in the Committee.This committee meeting was attended by Hon. Ministers, Hon. Deputy Ministers, Committee Members including Hon. Members of Parliament, and officials from the Ministery of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, among others.
2025-02-13
A meeting to discuss the Action Plan of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus was held on 07.02.2025 under the patronage of Hon. Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and the Chairperson of the Caucus Hon. Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Mrs. Saroja Savitri Paulraj. The Caucus discussed the possibility of enhancing women’s representation by achieving 25% women’s representation at the Provincial Level. Accordingly, the Caucus looked at the mechanisms of bringing in amendments to the prevailing law for the implementation of the said proposal at the upcoming election. The Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus also decided on meeting with various political parties and party secretaries to demand the appointment of women and increase women representation in the Provincial and Local Government bodies. Moreover, matters such as the elimination of sexual harassment at the workplace and the elimination of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) was also taken into consideration. During the meeting, plans to mark the International Women’s Day which falls on March 8th, were also discussed. Deputy Co-Chairpersons of the Caucus Hon. Member of Parliament (Mrs.) Chamindrani Kiriella (Attorney-at-Law) and Hon. Member of Parliament (Mrs.) Samanmali Gunasinghe and Members of Parliament, (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna, (Mrs.) Geetha Herath, Attorney at Law, (Mrs.) Sagarika Athauda (Attorney-at-Law), (Ms.) (Dr) Kaushalya Ariyarathne, (Mrs.) Oshani Umanga, (Ms.) Krishnan Kalaichelvi, (Mrs.) Nilanthi Kottahachchi (Attorney-at-Law), (Mrs.) M.A.C.S. Chathuri Gangani, Nilusha Lakmali Gamage, (Mrs.) A.M.M.M. Rathwaththe, (Mrs.) Deepthi Wasalage, (Mrs.) Hiruni Wijesinghe (Attorney-at-Law), (Ms.) Ambika Samivel and (Ms.) Lakmali Hemachandra (Attorney-at-Law) were also present at this meeting.
2025-02-07
Hon. Deputy Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government, P. Ruwan Senarath to lead the Sub-Committee The Chair of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Hon. Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna recommended the establishment of a special sub-Committee consisting of 08 members to identify the necessary policy changes in the public service. This was special sub-committee established when the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government met recently (Feb. 05) under the Chairmanship of the Hon. Minister (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abayarathna in the Parliament premises. The subcommittee was established under the leadership of the Hon. Deputy Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government, P. Ruwan Senarath. Hon. Members of Parliament Chandana Sooriyaarachchi, Ajantha Gammeddage, Dharmapriya Dissanayake, Dinindu Saman, (Mrs.) Geetha Herath, Attorney at Law, Lal Premanath and Muhammad Faizal were appointed as the other members to the said Committee. The primary objective of this subcommittee is to conduct the necessary investigations and identify policy changes required in key aspects of the public service, such as appointments, competitive examinations, retirements, and vacancies. The findings and recommendations will be submitted to the Ministerial Consultative Committee. The need for such a subcommittee was initially proposed by Hon. Member of Parliament Chandana Sooriyaarachchi, following which the Chairman approved the appointment. Additionally, discussions were held regarding existing vacancies in Divisional Secretariat Offices and Local Government institutions. Officials who attended the meeting highlighted that in 2024, the services of 8,435 individuals in Local Government institutions has been made permanent. Furthermore, a comprehensive staff review of all Local Government institutions is currently underway, with the final report expected by March 31, 2025. Once completed, the relevant data will be provided to the Department of Management Services for necessary appointments. Officials also clarified that employees recruited for specific projects will not be made permanent. Moreover, discussions were held regarding the competitive examination process for appointing Grama Niladhari officials. Members of Parliament and government officials including members of the committee were present at this Committee meeting held.
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