2024-04-04
News Categories : Committee News
The consideration of the current state enterprise restructuring program and the progress of the restructuring process took place during the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Alleviating the Impact of the Economic Crisis. This was considered when the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Alleviating the Impact of the Economic Crisis met recently (Apr. 01) under the Chairmanship of Hon. Gamini Waleboda in Parliament. Government officials, including officers attached to the unit appointed for the restructuring of state-owned enterprises, were called before the Committee.
The officials informed the Sectoral Oversight Committee that this unit has been appointed by the Cabinet to implement the State Enterprise Restructuring Program and briefed the Committee on their role. Accordingly, the officials of the unit appointed for the restructuring of government-owned enterprises informed the Committee that currently 07 institutions are taking necessary measures for the restructuring program. Srilankan Airlines Ltd, Sri Lanka Telecom PLC, Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation Ltd, Hotel Developers Ltd, Canwill Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, Litro Gas and Litro Gas Terminals Ltd, Lanka Hospitals Corporation PLC have been included in the restructuring program. Expressing views on the responsibility assigned to the Committee under the restructuring, the officials specifically stated that the ownership of these institutions is to be independent from the government and then tendered to the local and foreign investors in the private sector. I was also stated that Expression of Interest (EOI) has already been invited for several institutions.
The members of the Committee inquired the officials of the unit and the impact of the restructuring of the state-owned enterprises on the social, economic and national security aspects of the country. Accordingly, the Committee Chair instructed the officials of the unit appointed for the restructuring of government-owned enterprises to provide a complete data report of the business activities carried out in the past 10 years in the institutions designated for restructuring. Furthermore, the Committee instructed to prepare and forward a report on the contribution received through the process of restructuring government institutions to alleviate the economic crisis in this country.
Also, the Committee Chair stated that through the process of restructuring these public institutions, the matters related to national security will be referred to the sectoral oversight committee on national security for further discussion. Commenting further, the Chair of the Committee pointed out that it is possible to carry out all the work in a more diversified and efficient manner by discussing these matters at length in the Committee. Providing an example for the said, the Chair of the Committee pointed out that according to a recommendation given to the Credit Information Bureau (CRIB) of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, a telephone application has been created for the public to easily know whether they are in CRIB or not. The Committee Chair pointed out that the necessary program is being implemented to implement those activities in the near future.
Members of the Committee Hon. (Dr.) Sarath Weerasekera, Hon. (Dr.) Gayashan Nawananda, Hon. W. H. M. Dharmasena, Hon. M. W. D. Sahan Pradeep Withana, Members of Parliament Hon. (Ven.) Athuraliye Rathana Thero, Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva, Hon. Kabir Hashim, Hon. Eran Wickramaratne, Hon. S. Shritharan, Hon. Asanka Navaratne, Hon. Jagath Priyankara and government officials were present at the Committee meeting held.
2025-07-28
A working Committee was appointed pertaining to the future activities of the Parliamentary Caucus on Arts and Cultural Affairs, established for the Tenth Parliament. The purpose of this working Committee is to implement the programmes expected to be carried out by the Caucus for the advancement of the arts and cultural sectors of the country and to obtain ideas and proposals from experts and scholars in the respective fields for that purpose. Hon. Members of Parliament Prof. Sena Nanayakkara, Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi, Hiruni Wijesinghe, Attorney-at-Law, Nilanthi Kottahachchi, Attorney-at-Law, Sugath Wasantha de Silva, Susantha Dodawatta, Attorney-at-Law, Ruwan Mapalagama, and Dinesh Hemantha were appointed as members of this Committee. These appointments were made during the meeting of the Parliamentary Caucus on Arts and Cultural Affairs, held recently (Jul. 22) in Parliament, under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament Jagath Manuwarna, Chair of the Caucus. At this meeting, lengthy discussions were held regarding the steps that could be taken to uplift the cultural, literary, and arts sectors of the country, to promote the development of artists and professionals engaged in those fields, and on the necessity of fostering an interest among the general public and children in art appreciation. It was also proposed by the Member MPs that programmes should be initiated to create awareness among Members of Parliament and the parliamentary staff regarding the Parliamentary Caucus on Arts and Cultural Affairs. Hon. Members of Parliament Prof. Sena Nanayakkara, Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi, Hiruni Wijesinghe, Attorney-at-Law, Nilanthi Kottahachchi, Attorney-at-Law, Sugath Wasantha de Silva, Susantha Dodawatta, Attorney-at-Law, Ruwan Mapalagama, and Dinesh Hemantha were present at this Committee meeting held.
2025-07-28
No shortage of very essential medical items – Ministry of Health officials The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Health, Media and Women's Empowerment inquired into the medicine shortage and related matters at the Committee meeting held recently (Jul. 23), under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament (Dr.) Nihal Abeysinghe. Officials from the Ministry of Health informed the Committee that the current shortage of medicines has arisen due to delays in placing orders in previous years. However, they assured the Committee that procurement process for the year 2026 has already taken commenced, and there will be no shortage in 2026. They further stated that by the end of this year, 80% to 90% of essential medicine items are expected to be available in the country. In response to an inquiry made by the Committee regarding the availability of very essential medical items, the Ministry officials confirmed that there is no shortage of such items at present. Furthermore, the Committee also considered and approved the Annual Reports for the years 2022 and 2023 of the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation of Sri Lanka, the National Medicines Regulatory Authority, the Sri Lanka Ayurvedic Drugs Corporation, and the Wijaya Kumaratunga Memorial Hospital. While reviewing these reports, the Committee raised concerns over unresolved audit queries related to these institutions. The Committee Chair recommended that an internal review mechanism be established within the Ministry to ensure timely and appropriate responses to audit observations. Hon. Deputy Minister Muneer Mulaffer, Hon. Members of Parliament (Attorney-at-Law) Dayasiri Jayasekara, Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan, (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna, Samanmali Gunasingha, (Prof.) Sena Nanayakkara, (Dr.) S. Sri Bavanandarajah and Jagath Manuwarna were present at the Committee meeting. Officials representing the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, including Secretary to the Ministry Dr. Anil Jasinghe, also participated in the meeting.
2025-07-28
The proposed Education Reform Plan was taken into discussion at the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education, Manpower and Human Capital. The discussions were held when the Committee met on the Jul. 25th at Parliament, under the chairmanship of Hon. Hesha Withanage, Member of Parliament. Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Training, Mr. Nalaka Kaluwewa, representatives of the National Education Commission, the Director General of the National Institute of Education, along with several other senior officials of the Ministry of Education, participated in this meeting. The Ministry officials explained in detail to the Committee the steps taken to prepare the proposed Education Reform Plan and also presented the steps taken in the past in this regard. The Chair of the Committee stated that experts from relevant sectors who have been involved in reforming the education sector in the past are expected to be consulted to examine the proposed Education Reform Plan more comprehensively. He further stated that the full support of the Committee will be extended to ensure the proper implementation of the Education Reform Plan. Committee Members also emphasized the need for properly structuring the syllabus when implementing reforms in the education sector and pointed out the factors that should be considered in that regard. Meanwhile, the attention of the Sectoral Oversight Committee was also drawn to the Samurdhi (Amendment) Bill. The Committee inquired into the operations of the Samurdhi Bank, and the relevant approval was granted to present the said Bill to Parliament for the Second Reading. Hon. Members of Parliament Sunil Rajapaksha, Chanaka Madugoda, Thurairasa Ravikaran, Nilusha Lakmali Gamage, Attorney at Law, and Krishnan Kalaichelvi participated in this Committee meeting.
2025-07-28
The recommendations of the Committee on High Posts, which met on the July 24th at Parliament approved the appointments of 5 new Ambassadors, a High Commissioner, and a Secretary to the Ministry. Accordingly, Miss. Sumadhurika Sashikala Premawardhane as the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Republic of Indonesia, Mrs. C.A. Chaminda Inoka Colonne as the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Federative Republic of Brazil, Mr. Mohamed Rizvi Hassen as the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to the Republic of Maldives, Mr. L.R.M.N.P.G.B. Kadurugamuwa as the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Republic of Turkey, Mrs. Ruwanthi Delpitiya as the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Nepal, and Mr. Marimuththu K. Pathmanaathan as the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Republic of South Korea have been recomended by the Committee on High Posts. Furthermore, the name of Miss. Ayesha Jinasena (PC) has also been recommended by the Committee on High Posts for the appointment as the Secretary to the Ministry of Justice and National Integration. The Committee on High Posts, chaired by Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya, Prime Minister, comprised of the following Members of Parliament: Hon. Kumara Jayakody, Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha, Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney at Law, Hon. (Dr.) Upali Pannilage, Hon. (Mrs.) Saroja Savithri Paulraj, Hon. (Dr.) Hansaka Wijemuni, Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen, Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney at Law, and Hon. M. Nizam Kariapper, PC.
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