2024-07-17
News Categories : Committee News
The Public Financial Management (PFM) Bill was considered and approved by the Committee on Public Finance following a discussion at length on the particulars of the Bill. Accordingly, the Committee acknowledged and praised the efforts of the Ministry of Finance for their efforts in presenting such Bill which aims to establish a modern, transparent, and efficient PFM system fostering public trust, ensuring efficient resource allocation, and supporting sustainable economic growth.
The officials present stated that while the current Financial Regulations are indeed based on a legal framework, they have not been adequately adhered to. Consequently, due to lapses, inherent weaknesses, and transparency and accountability issues in current Public Financial Management practices, the Public Financial Management (PFM) Bill was drafted to establish financial discipline.
This Bill was considered and approved when the Committee on Public Finance met in Parliament recently (July 11) under the Chairmanship of the Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva, Member of Parliament. Officials representing Attorney General’s Department, Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka were present at the Committee meeting held.
Addressing the existing public finance issues, this Bill sets provisions for enacting a law on Public Finance which helps consolidate Regulations scattered among several related sectors. Whilst acting as an overarching law, it also sets requirements for specific content on Fiscal Strategy Statement and Medium-Term Fiscal Framework (MTFF).
Furthermore, the Bill also sets provisions for a primary balance target as the medium-term fiscal anchor and a primary expenditure ceiling of the Government - not exceeding 13% of the nominal GDP.
However, the COPF members emphasized that the proposed 13% primary expenditure limit for Sri Lanka hinders the government's capacity to tax and spend in ways that promote growth, efficiency, and social welfare. Additionally, it positions Sri Lanka as the only country to set such a low GDP-based limit on primary expenditure. Chairman stressed that with this constraint, achieving the 10% growth rate necessary to become a high-income country by 2040 is unattainable.
Moreover, measures such as the preparation and publication of a Debt Sustainability Analysis annually, reduction of Guarantee limit - not exceeding 7.5 % of the average GDP, projects to be reviewed & recommended by a Public Investment Committee, etc have also been addressed by the said Bill.
The Committee questioned the officials present regarding the medium-term fiscal framework for the upcoming financial year and the next four years, included in the fiscal strategy statement which must include a primary balance target, a primary expenditure ceiling, fiscal aggregate projections, and economic assumptions.
The Chair questioned as for the last 50 years, the assumptions made on revenue were incorrect, how is this particular Bill going to address this issue. Furthermore, the Chair was of the view that such Bill should focus not only on debt sustainability but also should look into economic growth. Furthermore, The Chair was of the view that the targets of the Public Financial Management (PFM) Bill should align with the Economic Transformation Act.
State Minister Hon. (Dr.) Suren Raghavan, and Members of Parliament Johnston Fernando, Hon. Rauff Hakeem, hon. Wajira Abeywardana, Hon. M. A. Sumanthiran, Hon. Mayantha Dissanayake, Hon. (Dr.) Nalaka Godahewa, Hon. Harshana Rajakaruna, Hon. Madhura Withanage, Hon. Premnath C. Dolawatte, Hon. Duminda Dissanayake were present at the 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 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.
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
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.
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