2025-02-17
News Categories : News
The Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill was passed by a special majority, without amendments in Parliament today (Feb. 17).
The Second Reading debate pertaining to the said Bill was held today (17) from 2.00 pm to 7.00 pm. Thereafter, 187 votes were cast in favor of the Bill. Following being considered at the Committee stage, a division was called for the Third Reading of the Bill. Accordingly, 158 votes were cast in favor of the Bill. The Second Reading and the Third Reading of the Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill was passed by a special majority, without amendments in Parliament.
2025-11-22
A special discussion on issues in the cooperative sector was held on the 19th of November, with the participation of the Hon. Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, Wasantha Samarasinghe, along with Governors, Provincial Cooperative Ministry Secretaries, Provincial Cooperative Development Commissioners, and Registrars. During the meeting Hon. Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, Wasantha Samarasinghe, stated that steps will be taken to establish “Coop City” outlets in major cities, where all consumer services can be obtained in one place. He further commented that a program is being prepared to introduce cooperative products to the market under a unified brand, and that steps will also be taken to convert regional cooperative outlets into mini-Coop City branches in order to provide necessary facilities to rural communities. During this meeting, an extensive discussion was held on the current situation of cooperative societies, the issues they face, and the methods by which those issues can be resolved. Minister Samarasinghe pointed out that large-scale financial frauds have occurred in some cooperative societies, and stated that in order to prevent such incidents in the future, the audit divisions of provincial cooperatives must be strengthened. Officials present emphasized the importance of revising the term limits for chairpersons of cooperative societies. They noted that imposing limits on the tenure of chairpersons and board members could help prevent corruption and misuse of power. Issues such as charging excessively high interest rates on deposits and loans in some cooperative societies, operating registered cooperative societies as private businesses contrary to their intended purpose, and the acquisition of cooperative lands and properties by private individuals were also discussed. The Minister further stated that several special plans have been formulated to resolve all existing issues in cooperatives and thereby strengthen the rural economy through the cooperative movement. He added that a program is being prepared to bring cooperative products to the market through the proposed Coop City branches in major cities, and that the Cooperative Development Fund expects to provide the necessary loan facilities to establish these Coop City outlets. Additionally, plans are underway to prepare a common Cooperative Charter for all Provincial Councils, as well as a common legal framework for all Provincial Cooperative Employee Commissions. This meeting was also attended by Hon. Deputy Ministers, Hon. Members of Parliament, Provincial Cooperative Development Commissioners, Assistant Cooperative Development Commissioners, and officials from the Department of Cooperative Development.
2025-11-22
Hon. Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, has been elected as the President of the Sri Lanka – Thailand Parliamentary Friendship Association for the Tenth Parliament. The revival meeting of the Association was held yesterday (21) at the Parliament premises under the patronage of the Hon. Speaker, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne. The Ambassador of Thailand to Sri Lanka, H.E. Paitoon Mahapannaporn, graced the event as the Guest of Honour. Several Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament, and the Secretary General of Parliament, Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera, were also present on the occasion. Meanwhile, the Hon. Member of Parliament Chandima Hettiarachchi was elected as the Secretary of the Association, while the Hon. Member of Parliament (Dr.) Elayathamby Srinath was elected as the Treasurer of the Association. In the discussions, both parties highlighted the longstanding bilateral relationship between Sri Lanka and Thailand, which has continued since the establishment of formal diplomatic relations in 1955. As nations enriched by shared Buddhist heritage, representatives reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening cooperation in key sectors, including trade, investment, tourism, education, renewable energy, and cultural exchanges. Both sides expressed confidence that the revival of the Parliamentary Friendship Association will provide a robust platform to deepen collaboration and enhance mutual understanding between the two nations. Prior to the meeting, the Ambassador of Thailand paid a courtesy call on the Hon. Speaker. Their discussion focused on avenues for expanding bilateral relations and fostering stronger ties between Sri Lanka and Thailand.
2025-11-21
Hon. Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, Wasantha Samarasinghe, has been elected as the President of the Sri Lanka – New Zealand Parliamentary Friendship Association for the Tenth Parliament. The revival meeting of the Association was held yesterday (20) at the Parliament premises under the patronage of the Hon. Speaker, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne. The High Commissioner of New Zealand to Sri Lanka, H.E. David Gregory Pine, attended the event as the Guest of Honour. Several Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament, and the Secretary General of Parliament, Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera, were also present on the occasion. The Hon. Member of Parliament Thanura Dissanayake was elected as the Secretary of the Association, while the Hon. Member of Parliament Geetha Herath, Attorney at Law was elected as the Treasurer of the Association. During the meeting, both parties underscored the longstanding bilateral relationship between Sri Lanka and New Zealand, founded on mutual respect and shared benefit. Discussions highlighted opportunities to expand cooperation in several key sectors, including sports, tourism, trade, labour, and education. The Hon. Speaker also extended his gratitude to the Government of New Zealand for the support extended to Sri Lanka thus far. The High Commissioner of New Zealand to Sri Lanka, H.E. David Gregory Pine, reaffirmed New Zealand’s intention to further develop cooperation in areas such as tourism, trade, and sports-particularly women’s cricket and men’s rugby. Both sides expressed confidence that the revival of the Parliamentary Friendship Association would serve as an effective platform to deepen collaboration and advance mutually beneficial initiatives across multiple spheres of partnership.As part of his visit to Parliament, the High Commissioner also paid a courtesy call on the Hon. Speaker, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, during which discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations, including enhanced cooperation at the Parliamentary level.
2025-11-20
“Many ethnic and religious conflicts arise when people are unable to communicate properly in a particular language,” Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne said at the inaugural ceremony of the program A Sinhala and Tamil language training program for Hon. Members of Parliament commenced on the 18th November 2025 at the Parliament premises, under the patronage of Hon. Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne. This program is conducted under the coordination of the Members’ Service Office of Parliament and with the support and resources of the Department of Official Languages. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Hon. Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne stated that many ethnic, religious, and otherwise issues emerge when proper communication cannot take place due to language barriers. He emphasized that, in order to build a great Sri Lankan nation that respects all communities, Members of Parliament must maintain strong public relations and act as leaders in society, for which these languages are of great value. Additionally, the Hon. Minister of Justice and National Integration, Attorney-at-Law Harshana Nanayakkara, who was present at the event, stated that language is not merely a tool for communication, but also a way of showing respect to the community that speaks that language. No individual should ever be treated differently because of the language they speak, he noted. The Minister further stated that by functioning tri-lingually in line with the national language policy, the country’s highest institution sets an example that inspires the general public. Accordingly, 21 Members of Parliament have applied to follow the Sinhala language course, while 63 Members have applied for the Tamil language course. The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of the Committee, Hemali Weerasekara, Hon. Minister of Justice and National Integration, Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law, Hon. Ministers, Hon. Deputy Ministers, Hon. Members of Parliament, Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Mr. Chaminda Kularatne, Commissioner General of Official Languages Mr. Nandana Hettiarachchi, Assistant Director (Administration) of the Members’ Service Office of Parliament Mr. K. P. Chandana, and officials of the Parliamentary Members’ Service Office and the Department of Official Languages participated in this event.
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