2025-10-03
News Categories : Committee News
The expected loan funds to be obtained for the construction of the Kadawatha–Meerigama section of the Central Expressway were considered at the Committee on Public Finance. This meeting of the Committee on Public Finance, chaired by Hon. Dr. Harsha de Silva, was held in Parliament on 30.09.2025.
During the meeting, officials from the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation, who were invited to the committee, stated that the length of the Kadawatha–Meerigama section of the Central Expressway is 36.475 kilometers. They further mentioned that a loan of USD 500 million is expected to be obtained from the EXIM Bank of China, with the remaining required funds anticipated to be sourced locally to complete the project.
Accordingly, the interest rate applicable to the loan from China’s EXIM Bank was extensively discussed during the committee meeting. Expressing his views, the Committee Chairman questioned the officials as to why they had agreed to an interest rate range going up to 3.5%, when the initially proposed fixed rate was 2.5%. In response, the officials explained that under current market conditions, the EXIM Bank had not agreed to provide the loan at a 2.5% fixed rate. As a result, they had agreed to a floating interest rate with a maximum cap of 3.5%, and also indicated that further negotiations were expected to revise the rate. However, the Chairman stated that this interest rate arrangement should be reconsidered, as it could potentially lead to an unfavorable situation for Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, the Committee also considered the supplementary estimates for the year 2025 under the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation for the approval of Parliament to settle a portion of the loan taken by the Road Development Authority for road development projects.
Officials of the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation told the committee that the amount of loan taken by the Road Development Authority from local banks for road construction amounted to over Rs. 310 billion as of 31.07.2025. Accordingly, the officials informed the Committee that they expect to obtain 36 billion rupees allocated in the budget from this supplementary estimate approved by Parliament to repay the loans. Accordingly, the supplementary estimate was approved after consideration by the Committee.
Furthermore, officials from the State Debt Management Office, summoned to the committee to discuss the current amounts of foreign and domestic loans obtained by Sri Lanka, reported that foreign loans amounting to USD 37 billion and domestic loans totaling Rs. 19.6 trillion remain to be repaid. The Committee Chairman inquired about the amount of loan installments payable this year, but expressed dissatisfaction with the officials’ inability to provide the exact figures at the time of the meeting. He reminded the committee of the importance of hiring skilled personnel within the State Debt Management Office to manage the loan acquisition processes effectively, as these are currently managed solely by that office.
Hon. Members of Parliament Ravi Karunanayake, Sunil Rajapaksa and Nishantha Jayaweera participated in this meeting.
2025-11-18
Attention of the Committee on Ways & Means was drawn to the Social Welfare Benefit Payment Scheme, its procedures, and related operational issues. This took place when the Committee met in Parliament on 12.11.2025 under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament Wijesiri Basnayake. During this meeting, officials of the Welfare Benefits Board briefed the Committee on the manner in which the Social Welfare Benefit Payment Scheme is currently being implemented. The Committee also held an extensive discussion on the criteria used for selecting individuals eligible for the Social Welfare Benefit Payment Scheme. Members of the Committee pointed out to the officials that several issues had arisen in identifying the most appropriate beneficiaries through these criteria. The Committee noted that since individuals are selected under 22 criteria, there should be a change in the mechanism used to implement these criteria. It was further highlighted by the Committee that, at present, individuals are allowed to register only for the purpose of receiving benefits, but what is required is that all individuals in the entire country should enter all their information into a single system (a Social Registry). Once registered in this way, their precise needs can be identified and necessary measures can then be taken to cater to those needs. The Committee also held an extensive discussion regarding the possibility of delivering welfare benefits directly to the homes of senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Officials further informed the Committee that although some individuals are eligible for benefits, they are unable to receive them due to not possessing a National Identity Card. Accordingly, the Committee emphasized the importance of verifying their identities and ensuring that they receive the intended welfare benefits. Hon. Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha, Hon. Deputy Ministers Chathuranga Abeysinghe, (Prof.) Ruwan Ranasinghe, and Nishantha Jayaweera and Hon. Members of Parliament Attorney-at-Law Sujeewa Senasinghe, K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera, Rohana Bandara, Chathura Galappaththi, and Thilina Samarakoon and a group of officials, participated in this meeting.
2025-11-17
The progress of drafting the National Higher Education Policy was discussed at the Subcommittee on Higher Education, appointed under the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Training. This discussion took place at the meeting of the Subcommittee held in Parliament on the Nov. 11th, chaired by Hon. Deputy Minister Dr. Madhura Senevirathne. At this meeting, Senior Professor Nilanthi de Silva, Vice Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, presented her views to the committee regarding the prepared draft and the current progress, noting that the draft document is expected to be completed by the end of November. A follow-up review was also conducted on the matters discussed at the previous committee meeting, including the review of approved university staff structures, the admission of students with disabilities to universities, and improving the quality of external degree programmes. Hon. Members of Parliament and a group of officials, including Mr. Nalaka Kaluwewa, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Training, participated in this meeting.
2025-11-15
The Sectoral Oversight Committee meets for two days to review the fiscal and physical progress of the 2025 budget proposals of several ministries The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability has proposed to the Ministry of Environment that it should take the initiative to produce an environmentally friendly paper bag that can be used as an alternative to polythene (sili sili) bags. This proposal was presented by the Committee during its discussion to impose a charge for sili sili bags when purchasing goods. The Chair of the Committee inquired from the officials present whether it should be examined if such measures would actually reduce the use of polythene. The Chair also questioned the officials as to which party had decided the amount to be charged for these bags. The officials pointed out that the gazette notification does not specify that a fee should be charged for sili sili bags. The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability met in Parliament on the 10th and 12th of November 2025 under the chairmanship of Hon. Member of Parliament Hector Appuhamy. At this meeting, discussions were held on the financial and physical progress of the budget proposals for the year 2025 of the Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic Resources and Marine Resources, and the Ministry of Environment. Several annual reports and performance reports of a number of institutions were also reviewed and subsequently approved. Hon. Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, and Hon. Members of Parliament Gnanamuththu Srineshan, Roshan Akmeemana, Chathuri Gangani, Susantha Kumara Nawarathna, Kitnan Selvaraj, Bhagya Sri Herath, Attorney at Law, Chithral Fernando, Attorney at Law, J.C. Alawathuwala, Sujeewa Senasinghe, Attorney at Law, and Upul Kithsiri also participated in this Committee meeting.
2025-11-15
An interim report containing proposals and ideas for establishing the necessary framework and formal institution to develop a structured salary scheme and enhance professionalism in the public service was presented to the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government by the Chairman of the appointed subcommittee, Hon. Member of Parliament Chandana Sooriyarachchi. This was presented during a meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, chaired by Hon. Minister (Prof.) A.H.M.H. Abeyrathna, recently (Nov. 13) at Parliament. During the meeting, matters raised by Members of Parliament regarding the issues prevailing in Divisional Secretariats and Local Government institutions were discussed. Accordingly, the committee chairman instructed the relevant officials to take necessary measures regarding these matters. Furthermore, proposals were made concerning the granting of pension benefits related to the positions previously held by individuals who became Members of Parliament after completing more than ten years of service in the public sector. As Members of Parliament who resign from their government positions do not qualify for a parliamentary pension, the necessity of considering this matter was also discussed. The committee chairman stated that further discussions will be held in the future and that attention will be directed towards this matter accordingly. It was also discussed that confusion has arisen within the public service due to changes made by the Public Service Commission to the efficiency bar cut-off marks listed in service minutes, recruitment schemes, and promotion procedures. Ministry officials stated that steps would be taken to reconsider this issue. Hon. Deputy Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government P. Ruwan Senarath, Members of Parliament who serve on the committee, and several public officials participated in this committee meeting.
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